Australian Virtuoso Jayson Gillham, Japanese Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii & More Join the SSO to Celebrate Beethoven

Australian virtuoso pianist Jayson Gillham will join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to open the second half of its six-program Beethoven Celebration, conducted by renowned musician Vladimir Ashkenazy. The celebration will also feature the Australian debut of Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii and performances by New Zealand baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

Gillham was raised in rural Queensland and grew up making the 500km round-trip to Brisbane on a weekly basis to attend piano lessons. In 2014 the young virtuoso was propelled to international fame when he was awarded First Prize at the prestigious Montreal International Music Competition, a win which has resulted in a myriad of performance engagements with the world's best orchestras and concert halls.

Ashkenazy, who held the position of Principal Conductor with the SSO from 2009-2013, conducted the first half of the celebration in February and describes Beethoven's music as timeless in its ability to connect with audiences.

"Beethoven's music has an eternal value," he says. "It has resonated with listeners emotionally and spiritually for nearly 200 years, so performing this music is just a wonderful feeling."

The second half of the Celebration will open with Beethoven Heroic, where Gillham will perform Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto - the very same work with which he won the prestigious Montreal International Music Competition. The concerts will also include a performance of Beethoven's magnificent Eroica Symphony.

Beethoven Pastoral sees Japanese sensation Nobuyuki Tsujii make his Australian debut. Blind from birth, Tsujii in renowned for possessing a formidable technique paired with an uncompromising passion, perfectly suited to Beethoven's brilliant Third Piano Concerto. Following this Ashkenazy will conduct the Pastoral Symphony, a work regarded by many as Beethoven's most beautiful.

The celebration concludes with the most celebratory symphony of all, the Ninth, in Beethoven Finale. A cultural icon, this music is a celebration of freedom, of joy, of civilisation and unity. The SSO will be joined by a line-up of the world's best operatic talent, including New Zealand baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, for the Symphony's uplifting final movement.

BEETHOVEN PASTORAL

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Thu 20 Oct, 1.30pm

Fri 21 Oct, 8pm

Sat 22 Oct, 2pm

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.3

BEETHOVEN Symphony No.6 (Pastoral)

Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor

Nobuyuki Tsujii piano

Tickets: $39-$159

BEETHOVEN HEROIC

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Wed 12 Oct, 8pm

Fri 14 Oct, 8pm

Sat 15 Oct, 8pm

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.4

BEETHOVEN Symphony No.3 (Eroica)

Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor

Jayson Gillham piano

Tickets: $39-$159

BEETHOVEN FINALE

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Wed 26 Oct, 8pm

Fri 28 Oct, 8pm

Sat 29 Oct, 8pm

BEETHOVEN Symphony No.2

BEETHOVEN Symphony No.9 (Choral)

Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor

Christiane Oelze soprano

Fiona Campbell mezzo-soprano

Steve Davislim tenor

Teddy Tahu Rhodes baritone

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Tickets: $39-$159

Jayson Gillham's debut album, Bach | Schubert | Chopin, is out on October 7 on ABC Classics.