Beloved Beethoven
Yuan Sheng
Overview
To mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, pianist Yuan Sheng presented a series of recitals across China dedicated to the composer’s piano sonatas. Known for his depth of scholarship and refined artistry, Sheng has long been acclaimed as one of the foremost interpreters of Beethoven in China. His programs not only showcased iconic sonatas but also revealed the philosophical and spiritual journey within Beethoven’s works, framed with carefully curated themes.
Program
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas I – Tsinghua University, New Tsinghua Auditorium – November 19, 2020
A program exploring Beethoven’s heroism and tragic intensity, including:
Sonata No.7 in D Major, Op.10 No.3; Sonata No.8 in C Minor, Op.13 “Pathétique”; Sonata No.27 in E Minor, Op.90; Sonata No.23 in F Minor, Op.57 “Appassionata”
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas II – “To Be or Not to Be” – Tsinghua University, New Tsinghua Auditorium – December 3, 2020
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas III – “Rebirth” – Tsinghua University, New Tsinghua Auditorium – December 24, 2020
“All Beethoven” – Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall – December 13, 2020
Program: Six Bagatelles, Op.126; Piano Sonata No.32 in C Minor, Op.111; Fantasia in G Minor, Op.77; Andante favori, WoO.57; Piano Sonata No.21 in C Major, Op.53 “Waldstein”
Pre-concert lecture: Forever Beethoven, with Yuan Sheng introducing Beethoven’s styles across different periods and genres.
Beethoven Cycle V: “Tempest – Beethoven in 1802” – Zhongshan Concert Hall, Beijing – November 15, 2015
Program: Eroica Variations, Op.35; Sonata No.16 in G Major, Op.31 No.1; Sonata No.17 in D Minor, Op.31 No.2 “Tempest”; Sonata No.18 in E-flat Major, Op.31 No.3
About the Project
Through this multi-year Beethoven focus, Yuan Sheng illuminated the vast emotional and structural landscape of the composer’s piano sonatas. From the youthful heroism of the Pathétique to the transcendent farewell of Op.111, Sheng’s performances highlighted Beethoven’s confrontation with fate, resilience in adversity, and ultimate vision of renewal.
Each concert carried its own poetic subtitle — “To Be or Not to Be”, “Rebirth” — reflecting Sheng’s conviction that “Every year with Beethoven is a cycle of regeneration.”
Highlights
- A complete Beethoven cycle presented across multiple venues, from Beijing and Wuhan to Tsinghua University.
- Programs designed with philosophical themes, linking Beethoven’s music to questions of destiny, struggle, and rebirth.
- Enriched by pre-concert talks, allowing audiences deeper insight into Beethoven’s artistic development.
- Lauded for a balance of intellectual depth and powerful expression, Sheng’s Beethoven playing has been described as both “deeply moving” and “philosophically revealing.”