Expressnews
CHENNAI — The South Asian Symphony Foundation (SASF) presents a rare evening of Beethoven at Museum Theatre on 18 March 2026, featuring American cellist Raman Ramakrishnan and pianist Stephen Prutsman in a programme of three Beethoven cello sonatas: Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 5; Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69; and Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op. 102, No. 1.
Beethoven’s cello sonatas are a musical life story in miniature. Together, these three works trace the arc of Beethoven’s creative life—from the elegance of his early works through the bold confidence of his middle period to the searching, intimate language of his late style. Along the way, Beethoven reshapes the cello sonata into a true dialogue, with the cello and piano as equal partners in conversation. By turns energetic, lyrical, playful and deeply reflective, these sonatas offer listeners a rare chance to experience Beethoven’s imagination not in fragments but as a compelling journey.
About the Artists:
Cellist Raman Ramakrishnan is an internationally respected chamber musician, best known as a founding member of the Horszowski Trio and the Daedalus Quartet, with whom he has toured widely and recorded extensively. He is an artiste member of the Boston Chamber Music Society, serves on the faculty of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, New York, and has performed at major venues and festivals across the US, Europe and Asia.
Pianist Stephen Prutsman has been described as one of the most innovative musicians of his time. A winner at the Tchaikovsky and Queen Elisabeth Piano Competitions in the early ’90s and moving seamlessly from classical to jazz to world music styles as a pianist and composer, Prutsman continues to explore and seek common ground and relationships in the music of all cultures and languages. Prutsman is Creative Director of Phenotypic Recordings and a Visiting Artist at Stanford University.
Ambassador Nirupama Rao, Founder-Trustee of the South Asian Symphony Foundation, said:
“Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas are among the most intimate and profound works in the chamber music canon — a dialogue between two voices that grows richer and more searching across a lifetime of composition, not unlike the conversations between cultures and traditions that lie at the heart of SASF’s mission. It is a great joy to bring these works to Indian audiences through the artistry of Raman Ramakrishnan and Stephen Prutsman, two musicians of extraordinary sensitivity and depth. I hope these concerts will open new doors for listeners encountering this music for the first time, and offer fresh discovery even for those who know it well.”
Founded by Ambassador Nirupama Menon Rao, the South Asian Symphony Foundation fosters cultural dialogue and cooperation across South Asia through music, creating a platform for harmony among the region’s youth.
Tickets: Rs. 500 & 1000
Available at BookMyShow, Etude School of Music, Musee Musical, PMA School of Music (Kellys), and MMA Choristers.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 7 PM
Venue: Museum Theatre, Egmore, Chennai
