Due to the pandemic Rob Kapilow has not been able to stage What Makes It Great programs in front of live audiences, but in September of last year he went onto the stage of the home of What Makes It Great Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center in midtown Manhattan and recorded- sans audience- three programs focusing on the music of Beethoven. This is the first featuring the Piano Sonata No. 23 'Appassionata'. Rob's special guest artist was pianist Orli Shaham.