Beethoven reCYCLE – Part Three at Michael Fowler Centr

“Outstanding Beethoven all round. The special attraction is the rare spiritual dimension in Houstoun’s playing of the serene finales... It’s as though Beethoven were no longer of this planet when he wrote them” The Listener

Beethoven’s cycle of 32 piano sonatas is remarkable. Written the whole length of his creative life, from the early Op 2 dedicated to Haydn to the mighty Op 111 which takes the piano into the realms of pure imagination, this is the “New Testament of the piano repertoire” and one of the supreme treasures of human artistic endeavour.

Their famous names – Moonlight, Tempest, Appassionata, Waldstein – have entered the pantheon of cultural history, and Houstoun presents them here after being “totally immersed” for 20 years with this most extraordinary, human, and powerful of composers.

Michael Houstoun chose to return to New Zealand after his spectacular sweep of final prizes in the world’s three most prestigious piano competitions – the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1973), Leeds Competition (1975) and Tchaikovsky Competition (1982).

Hugely in demand for concertos with our finest orchestras and chamber concerts the length of the country – his regular CMNZ tours with the winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition included – he has been based here ever since, and is adding increasing solo recitals to his repertoire with his recent Goldberg and Beethoven Diabelli Variations.

In 2012 he was appointed CNZM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services as a pianist, and returns to Beethoven at the very height of his powers.

Part Three of this year-long cycle concludes the sonatas across three programmes (programme five, six and seven). Each programme features either the Pathétique, Moonlight or Les Adieux.