Beethoven Piano Concertos

Few pianists have received higher praise in recent years for their interpretation of Beethoven than England's Paul Lewis. Not only did Lewis' recordings of Beethoven's sonatas receive a Gramophone award, but in 2010 he became the first pianist to perform all of Beethoven's piano concerti at the same Proms festival. He also drew well-deserved accolades for his outstanding concert in Harpa in 2013. Now Lewis comes back to Iceland to perform all five Beethoven concerti with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra: in March and September 2017 and in February 2018. Complementing the concerti on the three performances is music by three of Beethoven's contemporaries, all of whom made their mark on the musical life of Vienna: Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert.

It is appropriate to begin this Beethoven cycle with Concerto no. 2 because it is the oldest of Beethoven's five published concerti even though it does not bear the number 1. The influence of Mozart can be heard in the effortless and lyrical musical gestures in no. 2, whereas Concerto no. 3 shows clearly that Beethoven has found his dramatic personal style. Haydn's “Miracle” symphony is powerful, well-crafted, and elegant. It received its nickname from reports that a chandelier had fallen from the ceiling during a performance of the symphony but – to everyone's great relief and astonishment – had not injured anyone. 

This concert will be streamed live from sinfonia.is.