My Beethoven Odyssey
Like Shakespeare’s plays, Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas, from the late eighteenth/early nineteenth centuries, are a landmark in Western culture. As Hans von Bülow remarked in the late nineteenth century, they are the ‘New Testament’ for pianists. Over a tumultuous period, the sonatas chronicle the life of Ludwig van Beethoven from his mid-twenties through to his early fifties. They encapsulate the full spectrum of human emotions, from the darkest to the lightest, with an honesty of expression that speaks directly to the soul. When performing these works I feel incredibly invigorated and profoundly moved by the spirit of Beethoven.
It is inevitable, then, that Beethoven’s piano sonatas form a central pillar to my ever expanding repertoire. In fact, during my teenage years in Australia, I was guided by pianists who all had a strong connection and affinity with Beethoven, pupils of Solomon, Arrau and Serkin. As well as being an enormous physical, intellectual and emotional challenge, my study and performance of the sonatas fulfil my need to experience something that transcends words. Even in the 21st century, I believe these pieces are entirely modern, relevant and necessary in our rather frenetic world. It is a wonderful thing to be able to perform them and, as if travelling through time, to act as a medium for Beethoven to connect with his present-day audience.
I have lived with Beethoven’s music all my life and remember hearing the opening strains of the 5th symphony as a young child and my mother practising the haunting ‘Moonlight’ sonata, inspiring me to begin piano lessons in New Zealand. At the age of 13, I performed the sublime G major concerto in Australia. During my studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, I was awarded the Beethoven prize for a performance of the ‘Waldstein’ sonata. In recent years, my recitals, in both the northern and southern hemispheres, have included many of the famous sonatas including the ‘Pathétique, Moonlight, Tempest, Waldstein, Appassionata and Les Adieux’. Now it is time for me to share them all with my audience as I embark on my epic journey to perform the complete Beethoven sonatas. Please join me on this voyage of discovery and enlightenment.
James Brawn