Pianist Jonathan Biss is recognized as one of the world’s leading interpreters of Beethoven. In addition to having embarked on a nine-year project to record all 32 of the composer’s piano sonatas, he created Coursera’s popular open online course, Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. Now, as part of our Beethoven anniversary celebration, we explore these works with him as he showcases their remarkable variety of expression. On this first of two programs, Biss focuses on the dramatic Opus 7 with its tremendous confidence and optimism; the “Tempest” full of mystery and ambiguity; and the “Appassionata,” a furious, remorseless descent into darkness.