Concertgebouw gives pianist a medal
OrchestrasThe Amsterdam concert hall surprised its Sunday-morning soloist today with the award of a long-service medal.
Ronald Brautigam had just finished the third Beethoven piano concerto with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra when General manager Simon Reinink came on stage. Brautigam, who turns 70 this week, has performed 268 times in the hall.
Reinink said: ‘If there is one musician who knows the hall inside and out, it is you, Ronald. From your concerts with the Concertgebouw Orchestra to your many recitals. And also the fantastic performances of Beethoven. That is why we award you the Concertgebouw Penning on the eve of your 70th birthday.’
I never really liked forte-piano performance until I heard his Beethoven sonata cycle. It really is very good.
So richly deserved! His recordings for BIS were a huge part of my education in the piano music of the classical period. There are other ways to play Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, and other instruments to play them on, and of course it’s a matter of taste, but Brautigam for me is one of the all-time greats.
Oddly, I am in Amsterdam this weekend, and happened to be in the Sunday concert early today. The hall is as magnificent as always, with detailed and precise sonic projection. However, the piano sounded muddy and plain. Not sure if it is because of the seating position. I am on balcony front row, seat 40 on the right corner, with nice view of the stage. BTW, I believe any orchestra will benefit from such a great hall and will sound lovely, but the soloist may not.
I had to double check the picture to make sure it wasn’t Simon Rattle.
My favorite fortepiano master. One of the greatest pianist . His Beethoven/Haydn/Mozart series are great. Hope for more Schubert and … complete J.S.B on fortepiano
Well deserved.
Congratulations Ronald Brautigam! Brautigam totally deserves this! He is a fantastic Beethoven performer and admirer. He won admiration and prizes worldwide
Fully deserved. His Mozart and Beethoven piano concertos CD’s with the Kölner Akademie are stunning and entirely addictive.
https://koelnerakademie.de/mozart-the-complete-piano-concertos/
https://koelnerakademie.de/beethoven-the-piano-concertos/
Examples on youtube:
d-moll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rjSxlpUVso
c-moll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG_nrlNUql4&t=107s