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.