When asked to estimate how many times he has performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C min, Op. 37, Yefim Bronfman leaned back, sighed, and guessed, “Oh… surely at least 100 times.”

Bronfman is internationally recognized for his commanding technique, combined with expressive sensitivity at the piano. He and host Colleen Phelps explored Ludwig van Beethoven’s
Third Piano Concerto, with both in-depth analysis of the work itself, and within the grand collection of Beethoven’s concerti.

Bronfman played this concerto with the Nashville Symphony last November. He sat down with Phelps immediately following the dress rehearsal — a time when the artist is often either exhausted or nursing pent-up energy. But Bronfman was relatively quiet — like he was conserving energy in order to leave it all on stage.

During his interview, Bronfman talked about more than just Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Triple Concerto

Experiencing this exact televised performance of the Beethoven Triple Concerto as a young boy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was a formative experience for Bronfman.

JS Bach: Keyboard Concerto in d min

Bronfman talked about starting to play the piano young — a result of the influence of his mother, who was his first piano teacher. This performance of his at age 16 shows his prodigy at the instrument.

Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata No. 7, III. Precipitato

Prokofiev’s piano sonatas are among the most challenging piano repertoire ever written. Bronfman compared recording this complete set with performing the entire Beethoven concerto cycle. He pointed out that with Prokofiev, “there is a lot more ink on the page.”