Beethoveniana (2023)
(Concerto for piano and string orchestra)

Can one draw on Ludwig van Beethoven’s characteristic musical ideas to compose a work for the present day? This question lies at the heart of this composition. It begins with a broken C major triad that is cast as a motif and, through its simplicity and rhythmic conciseness, evokes the Classical period and Beethoven in particular. This motif will strongly shape all three movements in countless yet consistently recognizable forms, just as the master’s iconic opening motif from the Waldstein Sonata, Op. 53, resounds in this work in a transformed form immediately afterward. The result is a tribute to one of the most dazzling and original composers of all time, who drew his inspiration from both the simple songs of birds and political and philosophical ideas. An artist who worked far removed from the trends of his time, unwaveringly following his own path, yet was nonetheless a child of his era. Rooted in postmodernism, the work “Beethoveniana” invites the listener on a journey full of color—at times humorous and ironic, at times emotional.