Ronald Brautigam - Beethoven/ Pianosonate nr. 26 'Les Adieux' (Live @Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam)

vpro.nl/vrije-geluiden
Pianist Ronald Brautigam performs Pianosonata nr 26 in E composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. This composition is also known as Les Adieux. Surrounded by exotic palms and rare tropical plants Brautigam plays on a original Erard in Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam.
Broadcast december 28th 10.30 am (GMT +1) NPO1
More on: www.vpro.nl/vrije-geluiden.
This video was recorded @ Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam for VPRO Vrije Geluiden.
Vrije Geluiden is a music program made by the Dutch public broadcast organisation VPRO."

[@quite1enough]

Didn't know Beethoven still performs his music

[@vrijegeluiden]

Right?! What about this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/m52thoJvaNqMsKc

[@damonahmed6528]

i realize it is kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good website to watch newly released series online?

[@damonahmed6528]

@Elian Rocco thank you, I went there and it seems like a nice service :D I really appreciate it!

[@elianrocco2357]

@Damon Ahmed Glad I could help =)

[@mabel8179]

Ronald is an awesome pianist!

[@984francis]

Beethoven's grand to the Nth son (I can't work it out).

[@shandfan]

He ISSS!!!!!!

[@paradiddleday]

Came to check out the fortepiano, stayed to hear Brautigam's superb performance!

[@williardpienus8014]

Guy looks exactly like Beethoven. Nose.... eyes, everything! Even the hair!

[@ruperttmls7985]

Yeah... intentional.

[@thomase13]

Right? Everything but the very modern clothes! Maybe too much to call him Beethoven reincarnate, but do you know of anyone who does a better job realizing Beethoven’s great compositions? Sviatoslav Richter is the only one who even comes close in my mind!

[@ootamanabu6254]

1800s Piano and 1800s hair Style Pianist is super amazing ~~~

[@etienneleuridan3547]

Splendide réalisation ! Si j'osais . . . Ce magnifique pianiste pourrait être moins " stressé " ? Mais c'est vite dit ! J'ai aussi un Erard de 1840 . . . une merveille !

[@SmeagolTheBeagle]

Just unbelievable. I enjoyed that too much! What a staggering achievement, to grapple with a master work like that and own it. Bravo.

[@charleslayton9463]

A wonderful performance and a very clear and moving recording. The Erard sounds very modern. Perhaps the mic-ing was a little close, not letting the piano breathe quite enough. But I am very happy to have found this video! Thanks so much!

[@jgrab1]

He did the whole cycle of Beethoven sonatas on "period" pianos and it's a spectacular set, well worth acquiring.

[@manofsound2408]

This experience of having watched this performance of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven is inspiring, exquisite, and delightfully mesmerizing. Thank for providing this for public viewing!

[@Tmanaz480]

But what about the experience of having listened to it? "video killed the radio star..."

[@larsstrik]

LOVE Beethoven !!!

[@Decrepit_Productions]

I own Brautigam's Beethoven sonata set on SACD and think quite highly of it. What's more, I consider his Les Adieux one of the set's highlights. This live performance, for me, is even better, more emotive and dynamic. I still slightly prefer the final movement as played by Pollini in a videoed live recital also available here at KZbin. But this might well become my go-to rendition of the work.

[@kandutery]

incredible player. Best of the best

[@hiera1917]

I love the sound of this instrument. I wish I could find out what year it was made… fingers crossed, I’ll have one of my own Erard pianos one day.

[@elliotthop2072]

It’s from 1846; 2,48m Restored by Frits Janmaat

[@user-tc7mf4mj6w]

Muchas gracias por la información.

[@ekstrapolatoraproksymujacy412]

@@elliotthop2072 1846? where did you get that from? it look at least 1860 for me

[@hyramesshiramess1035]

Beyond SUPERB! Rivals the best of the best. A magnificent achievement by the highest, most exacting standards.Just WONDERFUL! BRAVO!

[@borisbrinkmann]

In an austrian archive I found a contemporary orchestration of this sonata for large orchestra (4 hns, 3 tbns) by Gottlieb Benedict Bierey (ca. 1830)! I made an edition and now search for a performance opportunity (I am a conductor) and plan to publish it afterwards...

[@CziffraTheThird]

Boris!....has there been any update of performing it? I have actually always so desired to hear the Sonatas masterfully transcribed for orchestra!....hoping someone would ever maybe possibly come close at all to how the master himself would have orchestrated and textured them!

[@borisbrinkmann]

@@CziffraTheThird No update yet, but recently, I found further interesting orchestrations in an archive in Eastern Germany which I really would like to edit as well - the "Pathetique" c minor op. 13 orchestrated by a certain Ludwig Alexander Balthasar Schindelmeisser (1811 - 1864) and the string quartet f minor op. 95, set for orchestra by Alexander Friedr. Landgraf von Hessen (1863 - 1945). I am so curious...! You may know probably the congenious Felix Weingartner "Hammerklavier Symphony" (orchestration of op. 106)? I found an orchestral version of the c# minor string quartet op. 131 from around 1900, but since I don't have orchestral parts, only full score, it will be a huge amount of work to prepare the material... By the way, it's not necessarily as the composer would have done it... I haven't checked the Bierey to deeply yet, but you remember the place in the last mvt. with the in chords rising and descending octaves where 4 bars are in pedal? Bierey decided (or forgot?) not to orchestrate the pedal although it's unmistakable requested by Beethoven, so that the place in his orchestration will sound massive but dry. Ah, here in Graz I found 3 Bagatelles by Beethoven orchestrated by Erich Wolf Degner. This is already prepared by me.

[@prototropo]

@@borisbrinkmann I stand in awe of you, Maestro! I'm embarrassed to report that I failed orchestration class after making a musical, moral, misanthropic nuclear disaster of Brahms' Piano Trio No. 1. I set my assignment on fire so my dear professor did not need to--and so one will ever hear that alluvial evocation of autumnal civilization so utterly defiled again, including me!

[@borisbrinkmann]

@@prototropo Well, in this case, I just found it and not MADE it... And you may find consolation if not satisfaction in the fact that a couple of years ago in fact an orchestration of op.8 had been released on CD which - at least judging by the listening examples on the internet - indeed is not very good nor brahmsian. On the other hand, concerning my "Les Adieux"-orchestration it is not proved yet that it is better - I just said, I FOUND it... (In fact, I believe that it is indeed quite interesting and experienced, despite one irritating fact: Bierey prefferred to set the place in the 1st mvt. with the unisono octaves, which re-occurs in the reprise, with regarding the pedal! It would have made no problems to hold the 4 horns, maybe plus the trombones, through while the others play the short octaves. It will sound shocking dry... I was seriously considering to change this very one detail in case I will conduct it one day. But of course, I want to hear it first...

[@comtaar2245]

I really enjoyed this performance. Interesting having worked at the same company as his cousin.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Wonderful!

[@IanPatrickCompton]

WOW AWESOME....

[@dorfmanjones]

Wonderful playing! 81a really can't be played better. (And great hair, especially for a codger.)

[@stevenbeer6005]

Very good! Cheers!

[@chaikagome9725]

Bravo!!

[@carmenaballi]

Precioso piano.

[@freidarichards8970]

Thankyou for so much pleasure…

[@Owlay84]

Meneer Brautigam is such a master of the pianoforte! Some of the best renditions of Beethoven's extensive piano catalogue are by him. I love his honest approach to Beethoven's piano music, not over-romanticizing the pieces, like many pianists do, but rather letting them speak on themselves.

[@Tmanaz480]

Who was it that said you should play Bach like Beethoven and Beethoven like Bach?

[@gianpaolocapuzzo1752]

Stupendo!

[@bifeldman]

Charming venue.

[@gabrielfromyhr5694]

the pianist looks like Beethoven

[@75Chopin]

hah, he does look like him!

[@ruperttmls7985]

His appearance is merely intentional.

[@Sam-gx2ti]

Or liszt when he was old

[@nelsongustavodeoliveirales9488]

Beethoven is alive!!! God, thanks.

[@paulmitchell5349]

Nice jacket.

[@louisehollyhead6807]

Wonderfully intense

[@MrNewtonsdog]

I would pay proper money for a vid of Brautigam playing all the middle and late sonatas on this piano and in this greenhouse

[@user-fm4tx2ch2d]

конечно людвиг великий композитор мы слушаем его чувства и мысли и каждый понимает их смысл и содержание

[@prototropo]

So true--we never wonder what he felt in leaving us a gift like this, but many, many lovers of music and especially of Romantic piano gems, wonder how Beethoven imagined every one of his intersections of melody and harmony, and how any mortal can play them this grandly, precisely, lyrically!

[@user-fm4tx2ch2d]

@@prototropo с вами абсолютно согласен классическая музыка это просто фундамент музыкального искусства столько произведений исключительной красоты это должно быть и фундаментом воспитания каждого ребенка к сожалению не все дети планеты могут это себе позволить

[@mikepenny01]

Holy moly

[@haanashim]

What is the date of the Érard ? It sounds late to me for Beethoven.

[@Tubaka01]

It sounded late to me, too (I've come to expect the punchier sound of the earlier fortepianos in period performances of Beethoven), but Sebastien Erard died in 1831. Sonata no. 26 was written 1809-1810, so the piece and the instrument are basically contemporary. I think the instrument must have been on the cutting edge of piano design and technology in its time.

[@qwaqwa1960]

This piano is 1860s-1870s I'd say...

[@qwaqwa1960]

Maybe a bit earlier...???

[@CameronGuarino]

it has a low A, so it can’t be that old

[@75Chopin]

Looks like at least 1860s onwards. Need to check the serial number. 🤔 and these straight strung pianos from Erard were made till early 20th century

[@user-fm4tx2ch2d]

сегодня особенно красивое произведение

[@dfccmd]

Abwesenheit: 6:54 Das Wiedersehen 10:41

[@olivierdrouin2701]

Oeuvres de Beethoven a entendre exclusivement sur instruments d époque , selon moi : celle ci , opus 57 , opus 69 , opus 70n°2, opus 96.

[@kandutery]

truly pianist hair

[@robertwebster]

Great performance. I just wish the camera would stop moving around so much. A new angle every few seconds - and for no reason. The mics are closer than any human ear (apart from the player) would ever be. So we hear every pedal creak and the action noises. But that's a question of personal preference.

[@colinmurphy2214]

Robert Webster I sort of enjoy the action noise, it gives the sound personality without detracting from its overall tone.

[@stevengevirtz8992]

So is everything else you said. Close yours and listen. I'm glad you have eyes, and you should be too-but you don't need them for this free gift. It's a well maintained and outstandingly tuned/ prepared, and properly played period intrument. A fine artist is conjuring up intentions of a deaf genius of an era of great achievement, through the use of sounds and silences, to express his own ideas of emotional energetic content as an Earth bound being, and your talking about where the mic is?

[@miriamallemand2343]

Jan Cayers, Beethoven's biograph tell us that Beethoven had given the title "Lebewohl" that litterary means "Live well" and is stromger than "Les Adieux". I like Brautiham's performance very much!

[@auroramadariaga4081]

Yes. Saying or writing in German "Lebewohl" is like saying "Farewell" in English. Jan Caeyers biography on Beethoven is a must read, right? It's a shame it hasn't been translated into English yet. I have the German version.

[@tarikeld11]

No, a "Lebewohl" is a "Farewell" and "Lebe wohl" means "Live well". Don't forget there is no space beween Lebe and wohl so it's right.

[@steps222]

I agree that "Lebewohl" is far more descriptive than the more popular title. With that in mind, I think Brautigam's approach is too assertive, even violent. I've been listening to a lot of his work recently: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven Sonatas. He's a master musician, and he makes the most persuasive case anybody has for playing these works on a fortepiano. It's fascinating to listen to his control of the instrument and to hear the progression of period instruments he plays from early Haydn onward. He even used three instruments in the Beethoven recordings to replicate the sound the Mater would have gotten--though he couldn't hear it, himself. Getting back to the original mood of this sonata, nobody has played it like Ivan Moravec. It's a loving benediction in his hands, culminating in a joyous final movement. Few artists have ever approached Moravec' spirituality or mastery of the instrument.

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

Hopefully they removed that piano from there directly after the recording.

[@comtaar2245]

Ja, dat is idd wel een punt. Die piano staat daar in feite in de subtropen.

[@shengvon5994]

he is a fortepiano master

[@colinmurphy2214]

10:42

[@edvandroabreu1463]

Bonito

[@WasiulWahid-ot7cj]

nice.

[@ald5365]

Absolutely amazing ! The sound is so rich, "boisé", alive, and what a magnificent playing ! Anybody knows when was this Erard built ?

[@maxicaru]

Al D due the legs, seems to be between 1860 @ 1870

[@thomase13]

@@maxicaruYes; they remind me of my favourite style of banister, also popular in the 1860s and ‘70s!

[@coralreef909]

Beethoven’s Broadwood Pianoforte or fortepiano. Imagine the Emperor Concerto opus 73 being performed on this instrument. Beethoven was already going deaf. Losing his place in the piece and out of sync with the orchestra.

[@qwertyuiop-ke7fs]

you can hear melvyn tan perform the emperor on beethoven's restored broadwood

[@karlakor]

The piano should be propped open with the stick at a 90 degree angle to the lid. The stick shown in this video is perched so close to the edge of the lid that it's a wonder the lid didn't come crashing down during the performance.

[@geoffthedonkey2295]

Looks like Liszt!

[@srothbardt]

Traci Lee Plays like him (maybe), too.

[@charlescxgo7629]

Style and hair wise, def! Though faces are very different. This guy has distinctly German/Austrian features. Liszt had much stronger features, more Dutch looking and a bit Slavic looking too..

[@kandutery]

It’s the special haircut for pianists

[@75Chopin]

When was this Erard made ??

[@ekstrapolatoraproksymujacy412]

Quite heavy looking cast iron plate, 85 keys, it is no earlier than 1850, very likely much later, not at all period correct for Beethoven if that is what you asking for

[@ProdigyImprovisation]

What piano is it? Broadwood?

[@afifi21]

ProdigyImprovisation It’s an Erard

[@jalla314]

Erard.

[@michaelmao2171]

Seriously, Broadwood pianofortes sounded DREAMY

[@chethamspianosummerschool8436]

Delighted that Ronald will be performing at the Chetham's Piano summer school, Manchester in August 2018 - can't wait! www.pianosummerschool.com

[@Kanawha]

Did the tuning of the piano survive the climate in this sort of greenhouse? Though to judge by the clothing it was rather cold probably?

[@vrijegeluiden]

This is the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam. The fortepiano was specially tuned in this environment, so he did survive it!

[@douro20]

What year is that Erard?

[@SexuallyRepressedMegalodon]

Probably around 1860

[@gjeacocke]

The high humidity in such an environment, would that not weaken the integrity of the instrument?

[@fanaticodelforda]

El tipo de tabla armónica que tiene lo hace ideal para lugares húmedos y le mejora el sonido al agarrar más corona por la madera hidratada e hinchada. Las cuerdas es otra historia...

[@LazyBastard69]

@@fanaticodelforda Warum antwortest du auf eine Englische Frage mit einer Spanischen Antwort? Macht doch keinen Sinn.

[@nunoareia27]

Ralph Außerbauer realmente... que torre de babel que aqui vai! Mas a resposta foi boa! Um abraço!

[@beethovensg]

Its the difference, as in fluxuation of relative humidity (🔺️=change) that moves the forces of the belly system and string tensions. Thereby structural forces experience a flux (wholly and in part), all the way to the cellular architecture, satisfying known and unknown hygroscopic properties of the wood species. Keeping the instrument's immediate micro environment and the larger space (venue/room) at a stable relative humidity will help insure tuning stability and the longevity of the instrument and its inherent structure.

[@handsomechuck1]

That was my thought too. Also, wouldn't you think the acoustics would be poor there? Shows what I know.

[@pianogranada8671]

А где кошки? :)))

[@cantab345]

Kto znaet'?

[@kierkegaard2010]

Beethoven spielt Beethoven 😅

[@martinsz441]

Looks like Beethoven honestly

[@Highinsight7]

and sounds like him..

[@waggawaggaful]

he kind of looks like beethoven. similar hands too.

[@voraciousreader3341]

This is lovely! I still prefer Ashkenazy, but Brautigam is right up there.

[@olivierdrouin2701]

Looks like Ken Russell in thé seventies.

[@Tmanaz480]

To me the fortepiano is perfectly suited to this piece. Performing it on a Bosendorfer would be like entering the Monaco Gran Prix in an S-Class Mercedes.

[@shandfan]

Heeee....Ronald waar was je zo lang.......nooit meer van je gehoord sinds je performance in Den Haag Diligentia waar ik de caretaker van de vleugel was.Haha,jij op een Erard en Cor de Groot op een ..wat was het...een Pleyel,waarop hij Chopin Mazurka's speelde? En Jij,Ronald..jij waagde je tot dat afgrijselijke moeilijke rondo uit Chopins op 21.Tadeladie-je tom..tadelada....later dit motief terugkomend in de linkerhand,waar de meesten afhaken.Vereist moed om dit te spelen,en te bedenken,dat dit concert op 21 ingeschat werd als zijnde minder technisch moeilijk.als het op 11 concert.Een grote dwaling.Ik heb het zelf onder mijn vingers gehad.en vergeleken met op 11. En ja..je "Les Adieux"...die mag er zijn!Mijn voorkeur gat weliswaar uit naar de op 7 Sonate. eenmaal gehoord van Abdel Rahman El Bacha.Voorts interesseren Beethovensonata's mij niet zozeer.

[@energiger]

Abroad thinking

[@imnorman4331]

Se parece más a Lizt que a Beethoven jajajajajaja

[@Pablo.N.M]

Franz Liszt? hahahah! El pianoforte suena muy bien! mejor que mi piano vertical jajaja

[@untl01]

Very virtuoso but I doubt this is what the composer had in mind.

[@comtaar2245]

Interesting. There were some liberties taken, but what specifically do you think the composer would not have envisaged?

[@777rogerf]

I suggest that Beethoven would certainly be delighted thatMaestro Brautigam's interpretations attract lead so many music lovers to an much greater appreciation of his compositions for the piano. Isn't that what every composer hopes for?

[@geiryvindeskeland7208]

comtaar, don’t take «untl01» seriously, he believes in the double beat theory.

[@opticalmixing23]

I cn hear your mistakes