Listen to All 32 of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas in 11-Hour Sonatathon with Stewart Goodyear at Memorial Hall

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Andrew Garn

Stewart Goodyear

Why spend 11 hours listening to recordings of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas when, over the course of one day, you can hear them played by one of the greatest pianists out there? Stewart Goodyear performs this astounding feat at Memorial Hall in three consecutive concerts beginning at 10 a.m. The piano is the only genre for which Beethoven consistently wrote throughout his life, and five of the sonatas, including “Moonlight,” are the best known in all of piano literature. Goodyear has done the “sonatathon” in four other locales and this performance marks his Chamber Music Cincinnati debut. It’s an exceptional opportunity to witness this kind of artistry and an even rarer chance to hear Beethoven mature as a genius of composition over a 30-year period. The sonatas are performed in chronological order with an intermission during each concert and breaks for lunch and dinner. CMC’s website includes a detailed setlist so you can check to see which concert features “Moonlight” or “Hammerklavier.” 10 a.m.-1:40 p.m.; 3-6:30 p.m.; 8-10:50 p.m. Sept. 7. $40; $10 student rush tickets day of concert. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com, cincychamber.org.