Solo Repertoire

A sample of the sort of programme offered by Sarah Beth Briggs. Sarah is always delighted to talk to promoters about repertoire preferences to create the best programme to fit within their concert season.

Find out about Sarah’s concerto repertoire here.

Variations Plus (click to view more)

This idea came from her most recent (2023) release entitled Variations – ‘an exceptional CD’ Rob Cowan. All works in the programme are either a set of variations in name, contain a movement in variation form or take on the Variations mantle. Chopin’s Berceuse and 4th Ballade, for example may not be works that most listeners would immediately think of as Variations, but careful listening certainly highlights them as such. This programme has been hugely popular with promoters with Mendelssohn’s Variations Serieuses winning particular praise.
Variations Plus programme options are numerous, but two are listed below. Programme A is a recital for promoters who would perhaps like to introduce their audiences to something new. It highlights Sarah’s interest in the music of Austrian British composer Hans Gál whose Piano Concerto she made the world premiere recording of, to much acclaim. His only Piano Sonata (1927) contains a set of Variations as its haunting third movement. In Programme B, every work will be familiar to most regular concert audiences.
Alternative options might include, for example, Brahms’s terrific Handel Variations which Sarah has also recorded.

A
Mozart Variations on a theme by Duport, K573
Hans Gál Sonata op.28 (1927)
Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses op.54
Interval
Haydn: Variations on Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
Schubert: Impromptu in B flat, D935 no.3
Chopin: Berceuse op.57
Chopin: Ballade in F minor op.52
B
Haydn Variations F minor Variations, Hob XVII/6
Beethoven Sonata in A flat major, op 26
Chopin Berceuse, op 57
Interval
Beethoven 32 Variations for Piano in C minor, WoO80
Schubert Impromptu in B flat, D935 No. 3
Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses op.54

PROGRAMME A

Variations Plus (click to view more)

A programme showcasing part of Sarah’s 2023 release of Variations and including famous works that are Variations in all but name. Also featured is Hans Gál’s Sonata (a composer who Sarah has become closely associated with through her prize winning recordings) which includes a haunting set of variations. Further details here:

Mozart Variations on a theme by Duport, K573
(or Haydn F minor Variations Hob XVII/6)
Hans Gál Sonata, op 28 (1927)
Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses, op 54
Interval
Beethoven Variations on God Save the King, WoO78
(or Haydn Variations on Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser)
Schubert Impromptu in B flat, D935 No. 3
Chopin Berceuse, op 57 and F minor Ballade op 52

PROGRAMME B

From Bach to Bartok

Bach Two Preludes and Fugues from book 1 of 48
Beethoven Sonata in C major, op 53 ‘Waldstein’
Interval
Bartok Suite, op 14
Brahms Intermezzos and Rhapsody, op 119
Chopin Ballade no 4 in F minor, op 52

PROGRAMME C

Debussy and Chopin

A very popular programme offering a fine cross section of Debussy and Chopin featuring many of the works on Sarah’s much acclaimed Debussy and Chopin disc which has featured over forty times on Classic FM

Debussy Suite Bergamasque
Debussy Reflets dans l’eau (Images bk 1)
Debussy Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest (Preludes book 1)
Chopin Berceuse, op 57
Chopin Ballade no 1 in G minor, op 23
Interval
Chopin F minor Fantasy, op 49
Debussy Two arabesques
Debussy La cathédrale engloutie (Preludes book 1)
Debussy Pour le piano

PROGRAMME D

From the classical and romantic eras to 1930, including a delightful set of Britten miniatures which Sarah world premiered

Mozart C minor Fantasy, K475
Haydn Sonata in E flat, Hob XXI/52
Beethoven Sonata in C minor, op 13, ‘Pathétique’
Interval
Britten Three Character Pieces
Chopin Berceuse and Ballade no 3
Debussy Pour le piano

PROGRAMME E

Schubert’s final piano sonata and Debussy’s first book of Preludes

Widely regarded as one of the piano repertoire’s greatest sonatas, Sarah’s release of Schubert Sonata in B flat, D960 won huge critical acclaim. Here she juxtaposes it with a fascinating impressionist journey through Debussy’s Preludes Book 1