Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) arr. Joel Tse — Sonata No.2 in D major 
Adagio
Allegro
Andante
Allegro

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) arr. Toke Lund Christiansen — Rondo Capriccioso Op. 14

Cesar Franck (1822-1890) Edited by Jean-Pierre Rampal — Sonata in A major 
Allegretto ben moderato
Allegro
Recitativo-Fantasia
Allegretto poco mosso

Tonight’s performance begins with J.S. Bach’s Sonata No. 2 in D Major, originally composed for the viola da gamba and harpsichord. In this special arrangement by Joel Tse, the flute takes on the gamba’s agile role, engaging in a spirited “trio” conversation where the pianist’s two hands and the flautist are equal partners. This four-movement work is Bach at his most optimistic, featuring a soulful Adagio and a final Allegro that pulses with infectious, dance-like energy. Following the Baroque precision of Bach, we dive into Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14. Written when the composer was only a teenager, this piece is the ultimate showstopper. It begins with a warm, operatic introduction before pivoting into a “schertzo” style that Mendelssohn made famous—a light, scurrying, and mischievous “fairy-dance” that requires breathless virtuosity and precision from both performers.

The second half of the program is dedicated to César Franck’s monumental Sonata in A Major. Written in 1886 as a wedding present for the “King of the Violin,” Eugène Ysaÿe, this work is widely considered one of the greatest sonatas ever composed. While originally for violin, the flute version is a beloved staple, perfectly capturing the piece’s soaring heights and deep shadows. The sonata is famous for its “cyclical” structure, where a tiny musical seed planted in the dreamy opening movement grows and transforms throughout the piece. You will experience a stormy, turbulent second movement and a free-form “Recitativo,” leading to the joyous finale. The last movement is particularly famous for its “follow-the-leader” canon, where the flute and piano mimic each other’s melodies like a happy couple in conversation, building to a triumphant, bell-tolling conclusion.