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Click here to watch Paul Lewis talking about Beethoven on Guardian
Every autumn, the Beethovenfest is held at the composer’s native city of Bonn. This tradition dates back to 1845, when a three-day music festival was held on the occasion of the dedication of a Beethoven Monument to mark the 75th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Franz Liszt conducted during the festival and Hector Berlioz was one of the guests.
From 7th to 20th of May, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Edo de Waart and the Hong Kong Philharmonic will perform the most monumental of Beethoven’s masterpieces, paying homage to the great composer who changed the course of music forever.
In spite of being the most famous piece of music in history, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has lost none of its power to shock, thrill and uplift after 200 years of constant performance. As the Symphony slams the door on the Classical era, the Emperor Piano Concerto casts the soloist as the hero of a historic moment from the very opening bar, stealing the
orchestra’s triumphant E-flat major chord and taking charge with the confidence of a born general. British pianist Paul Lewis is widely regarded as one of the finest Beethoven interpreters of today and makes his Hong Kong début with his first collaboration with Edo de Waart. |
