A Bold New Vision for Beethoven
In a refreshing departure from convention, the acclaimed Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has released a groundbreaking new album, Opus 109, on the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label. Rather than presenting Beethoven's final three piano sonatas as a traditional set, Ólafsson has crafted a conceptual masterpiece that centres on a single work: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109.
This innovative approach places the sonata within a carefully curated musical timeline, exploring both the composer's own influences and the rich Viennese soundscape of the early 19th century. The result is a recording that has been hailed as opening up transcendent vistas for its listeners.
Bridging Musical Eras
Ólafsson's central thesis is that the fingerprints of Johann Sebastian Bach are evident all over Beethoven's later works. He argues that the uninhibited invention characterising late Beethoven is deeply rooted in the baroque era, with its improvisatory spirit and fondness for dance forms.
The album begins with Bach's E major Prelude from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, setting the stage for what is to come. A fascinating detail is that every piece on the album is in either E major or E minor, keys that the synaesthetic pianist associates with various shades of green.
The journey continues with a diaphanous reading of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90, which Ólafsson views as a direct precursor to the Op. 109. This is followed by a pellucid account of Bach's final Partita, serving as a substantial palate cleanser before introducing Schubert's rarely heard Piano Sonata No. 6 in E minor.
A Breathtaking Climax
The album's architecture leads to a seamless and breathtaking transition into the highly anticipated centrepiece: Beethoven's Op. 109. Critics are already celebrating Ólafsson's interpretation as one of the most beautiful accounts ever recorded.
His performance is noted for its exceptional variety in articulation, bringing a new level of depth and nuance to this beloved work. While his unconventional programming might cause some traditionalists to wince, it is a bold move that pays off spectacularly for those willing to embark on this musical journey with him.
Víkingur Ólafsson's Opus 109 is more than just an album; it is a visionary recontextualisation of classical masters, creating a brave new world of auditory experience for the modern listener.
