Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 “The Tempest”, Op. 31/2 | Kit Armstrong, piano
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Wunderkind meets genius: When Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Opus 31, No. 2, he was a star pianist in Vienna. American pianist Kit Armstrong, who grew up as a “wunderkind,” showed a glimpse of the great composer’s improvising talent in re-interpreting the sonata in his own very personal fashion. His piano recital took place during the Beethovenfest in the Plenarsaal (plenary hall of the Bundeshaus) in Bonn in September 2023. And beware: the piece begins very quietly.
(00:00) Intro
(00:20) I. Largo - Allegro
(09:32) II. Adagio
(16:56) III. Allegretto
His ears were hurting, his hearing difficulties were getting worse and worse, and the psychological strain was unbearable. In 1802, Ludwig van Beethoven wrote a letter from Heiligenstadt, near Vienna, to his brothers, asking where - after consulting with a doctor - he should go to recuperate. He revealed to his brothers his worsening deafness, telling of his desperation and suicidal thoughts. It was around this time (1801/02) that he also created his Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor.
It is one of 32 piano sonatas Beethoven composed between 1795 and 1822. They are highly regarded and viewed as an extraordinary repertoire of piano pieces. Beethoven lived in Vienna as a composer and famous piano virtuoso. He was capable of masterfully improvising based on individual motifs, enjoyed experimenting and continuously shifted away from the classic sonata form in his later compositions.
Piano Sonata No. 17 is also known as “The Tempest.” Beethoven biographer Anton Felix Schindler claims Beethoven composed the piece based on Shakespeare’s drama of the same name. There is, however, no hard evidence to support this. Schindler was Beethoven’s secretary and first biographer, and he enjoyed being the center of attention. He later purported to be a good friend of Beethoven’s, but he didn’t necessarily always stick to the facts in his reports. It is even proven that he faked entries in Beethoven’s notebooks and other documents.
Out of this series of sonatas, Piano Sonata No. 17 is the only one in D minor (like his Symphony No. 9, by the way). The first movement starts out restrained and dark and then builds up dramatically, its sound reminiscent of a big “tempest.” Then an upbeat adagio and a rhythmic allegro. All three movements begin and end quietly - that was unusual, too. When Beethoven composed his Piano Sonata No. 17, he was 31 years old - the same age as American pianist Kit Armstrong when this recording was made.
Kit Armstrong intensely scrutinized Beethoven’s sonatas. The first musical theme in Sonata No. 17 builds up slowly and quietly, as though it were just in the midst of coming to be in the thoughts of the composer. You almost feel transported back into the room where Beethoven once diligently composed, as Kit Armstrong gingerly strings together one tone to the next in his interpretation, before pausing as though to think about what comes next and again and then - like he’s had a sudden realization - races over the keys.
Kit Armstrong, born in Los Angeles in 1992, is truly an all-rounder. By the age of five, Kit Armstrong was playing the piano and composing his own music. Besides elementary school, the very gifted student attended high school at the same time. He was then admitted as the youngest student to Chapmen University of California at the age of seven, where he studied composition and physics. At the age of nine, Kit Armstrong changed to Utah State University, where he studied music, mathematics, biology and physics, before going to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and completing a degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London with First Class Honours. In 2013, his first CD was released - with his own compositions and transcriptions of pieces by Bach. Since he turned 13, he has also been taught by Alfred Brendel. The world-renowned pianist referred to Kit Armstrong as a “child prodigy” in 2008, and as “the greatest musical talent that I have encountered in my life.” As a solo pianist, Kit Armstrong has worked with many of the most renowned conductors around the world, including Christian Thielemann and Robin Ticciati as well as orchestras like the Vienna Philharmonic and the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Beethoven’s pupil Carl Czerny wrote that Piano Sonata No. 17 was perfect in form and that the greatest impact unfolded “when the player’s imagination is at the same level as his artistry.” Kit Armstrong fully taps into this “player’s imagination” in his interpretation of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31/2.
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Пікірлер: 103
MAGISTRAL! Bravo
Wonderful, INTENSE interpretation! As this Beethoven should be.
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Very special. He makes it so interesting. It feels like reading a book.
This video is the most beautiful thing I have experienced today.
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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ペタリングが素晴らしくて音が躍動している 🎶右手と左手の弾きわけが素晴らしい。奏者の解釈が完全に物に成 っている🎹テンポ、間の良さが絶妙！秘めたる感性を感じます❤
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Thank you.
Absolutely wonderful interpretation played with so many feelings and great intensity when necessary! Thank you for the treat!
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Thank You! Kit! Bravo!🌹🌹👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Wonderful interpretation of this "Tempest". Thank you, Kit Armstrong!
@staffanolofsson8201
4 ай бұрын
Even if his playing is not 100% perfect in a technical way of regarding, I still think this is somewhat of a new way in playing this sonata no 17. His playing shows new possibilities how one can interprete this music.
@staffanolofsson8201
4 ай бұрын
But sorry to say DW Classical you are wrong when you mark out different movements, for example the Adagio at 5:26!
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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@osvaldosanchez363
3 ай бұрын
Una maravillosa interpretacion
@osvaldosanchez363
3 ай бұрын
@@DWClassicalMusicgenial
С благодарностью🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I wish I had been there. A beautiful place to fully enjoy Bethoven piano sonata. Bethoven music always heals my soul.
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Hasta los que sabemos poco de música podemos observar que esta interpretación, los sonidos son muy bonitos.
Qué auténtica belleza.
Bravissimo. Just fantastic. Sid Bloch
Awesome 👏🔥
Awesome!
So great, wonderful, success
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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O ruim desta peça é que ela acaba.
FABELHAFT FROM SOUTH AFRICA THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU ARE A BRIGHT GLOWING STAR.❤
@DWClassicalMusic
3 ай бұрын
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3악장을 저렇게 파워풀하게 치는 피아니스트는 거의 보지 못했는데 와우
Una interpretación diferente. Emotiva,pero si se quiere seca y sin momentos de emotividad. La interrelación en sí es brillante, pero se pierden matices, a mi parecer fundamentales! 22:47
It's great ❤
Superbe interprétation ! Merci ...
Calming music 😇
👏👏
My favorite pianist!
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Why isn’t the venue packed? If it’s a free concert (no disrespect to this wonderful young man) why wasn’t this opportunity seized? I certainly would have enjoyed & respected Mr Kit if the opportunity was available. But thank you for sharing your incredible talent & thanks to the person who posted this.
@bodleyibolya7850
4 ай бұрын
By his history and method and by his mom who is a white chaser, beggar in our Western churches and at Brendel, he is a cockroach in our Western culture with his mom together. He knows exactly why he sells himself for free, he is a wannabe trash, does not belong in our Western culture!
bravi 🙏🏼
When Alfred Brendel had retired from public conserts he had Kit Armstrong as his protégé and gave him lessons in piano playing. Maybe we can hear a little of Brendels influence in Armstrongs wonderful playing?
@gregorurban3222
4 ай бұрын
Surely not, Armstrong is his own character, and also Brendel taught him to aupport his own personality. Besides Brendel gave him "lessons" during his own active career, and also not as his successor!
@staffanolofsson8201
4 ай бұрын
@@gregorurban3222 You are absolutely right, and I was a little bit wrong. Best wishes!
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing these insights!
👏👏👏
Spectacular :)
C est un élève d Alfred Brendel son Beethoven est forcément très bien travaillé
Bravo, Kim Amstrong! Amazing rendition!
❤ Beethoven ❤ Kit Armstrong you rock the world ❣️ In my opinion I would love to see schools teaching kids classical music, we need to let them know that there are more and better, than nasty lyrics of rap, rock metal and twerking.
아름답고 명확한 타건....멋집니다!
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Viel dank ❤ DW❤️❤️🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪
Splendid! ❤️❤️
I feel like one of those people who criticize every little detail. At the same time he could have played (just heard the last movement) this a little slower in order to play more "right" notes or whatever lol (or it's just my taste). I've been practicing it for a while, otherwise I probably wouldn't have heard them though! Also, I do not play it any better than him, it takes courage to do this in front of the audience and in his playing I liked the colour changes (whatever this actually means. Haha). Anyway, feel free to tell your opinion (politely.. lol)
@user-vc2od1wg9o
4 ай бұрын
Он мог бы работать-добросовестным почтальоном...не без перспективы повышениев...перед уходом на пенсию....
@staffanolofsson8201
4 ай бұрын
I dont agree at all, but yes, someone has to be critical, otherwise it is not so fun. So thank you. Haha.
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your opinion on the matter.
@katttttt
4 ай бұрын
@@staffanolofsson8201 yea otherwise it would be super boring xD I guess in the end it's just a matter of taste or what you were used to, soo.. Idk why I write this haha
触键很有弹性的，感觉也很放松
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Loved it. Time to tune my piano and get back to playing at my level (much, much lower than yours!)
1:14 sounds jazzy af
This is the most powerful play of Sonata No.17 I’ve ever seen… He’s gonna destroy the piano🤨
En el congreso de mi país los diputados se van porque no comprenden están maravilla y exquisitez. 🤷♂️
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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Van Ludvig Beethoven exactly meant what Kit Armstrong read for the audience . I hear that right hand theme from the 17teen : " No worry, I am right and left, both. The meaning of this music is to smooth the huge waves from the big Dinosaur till the little movements of the just a field - Lizard, or geicko, or something as nonpoisonous serpent in a manageable size. "
Is this the reincarnation of Wilhelm Kempff?
I agree with you. The people now think, that if someone is on tv it is because of it a very good musician, but they dont listen
I’d like to add a bit more. The venue is a little confusing. Not a Concert Hall. Not a Conservatorium or Theatre but can handle his magnificent Concert Grand with ease. Now the audience looks like a motley crew. Getting dressed up wasn’t part of their agenda. But Mr Kit. Wow. His beautiful tuxedo, his stark white shirt. His concentration. But you know what? His beautiful presentation would perhaps have been better appreciated by his laid back audience if he’d simply worn jeans & a t-shirt. No offence Mr Kit but I know I would have dreamed of one day just opening this musical score if you’d dressed down. Not trying to play because I couldn’t, but if you could perform in casual clothing I could dream while wearing mine. Bless you & your magnificent talent.
@staffanolofsson8201
4 ай бұрын
I think it is in Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. Looks like a place for political meetings.
@dellamcgowan7502
4 ай бұрын
@@staffanolofsson8201 thank you very much for letting me know. Political meetings sound a bit nasty but every country has its own ways. I’m glad you & I shared this wonderful performance from either side of the world. I’m talking to you in a country town in Australia. Bless you friend. Della
@staffanolofsson8201
4 ай бұрын
@@dellamcgowan7502 And bless you Della. This Bonn is the former capital of West Germany during the Cold War. You can see the Eagle, and look at all the microphones on the desks. So nice the political speeches now has turned into good music in this place. And that this place is open for good music.
Very dramatic. He is one with the piano.
Le falta pasión. Que pasa con los intérpretes de ahora? Rubinstein...Arrau....esos si que tocaban
@quaver1239
4 ай бұрын
This boy is still a child. Give him a chance! He still has a long way to travel. And he will quite possibly be as magnificent as Arrau when he grows up.
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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that was overspeed, this Tempest should be fast, but not that fast. Kissin's or Valentina's speed for this piece should be appropriate.
Nice try
Что ж левым мизинцем лажает? Какое-то школьное исполнение, нет драматизма, фактура не звучит объёмно. Сравнить хотя бы с Daniel Barenboim.
@DWClassicalMusic
4 ай бұрын
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@CristianGonzalez-xb5rc
2 ай бұрын
Единственный нормальный комментарий😂
Утомление старательным аккомпанементом....1 курс консерватории,-примерно... Назойливость мышления-таки зашкаливает...
Eh.. I could just as well play a MIDI file on my computer, and it would have more soul and personality than this "performance"...
@user-vc2od1wg9o
4 ай бұрын
В точку-маэстро....
@quaver1239
4 ай бұрын
Oh, but you are a genius. And this young man is only "the most gifted student" that Alfred Brendel has "ever encountered."
@lonesomealeks4206
4 ай бұрын
@@quaver1239 You know, "gifted" can be translated to "forced by parents to play piano since 3 years old" - And you can hear it, poor dude plays like a machine no emotion, there is no joy. This is just sad.
@jan861
4 ай бұрын
show me dat MIDI file
@lonesomealeks4206
4 ай бұрын
@@jan861 google is your friend.
THE 3RD MOVEMENT FELT LIKE AN EAR ORGASM
Quite a poor interpretation, which is absolutely unsuitable for EU parliament building and audience. I hope Kit Armstrong will change his style; if you want an obvious illustration, try to play I. or III. at the speed of 120% and you will hear straight away that the melody is broken. That is not an interpretation, that is poor performance... not a catastrophe from the other hand... seemed like a lot of people liked that... ...but a gentlemen in the first row was not tricked and just enjoyed reading his book during the performance Kit, you have job to do in respect of your performance approach (I believe, your technic is superb)