La Belle Helene Grimaud, Conjures Beethoven

Conjuring Beethoven!

The virtuosity of La Belle Helene Grimaud conjures the spirit of Ludwig Van Beethoven in her stellar new Deutsche Grammophon recording of Beethoven: concerto no.5 “Emperor”/piano sonata no. 28 with Vladimir Jurowski.

Heaven and earth are joined in this CD; a fiery tempest of power, magnetism and human endeavor. It is to the discretion of the listener to follow the music into a ghostly, melancholic, introspection that bursts as a dark flower suddenly into realization or to succumb to an auditory opiate of other worldly beauty.

The “battlefield” or Opus in Grimaud’s narrative of Beethoven’s no. 5, is personal. Grimaud informs us, “I think that the real idea of Beethoven’s music is to be found where the extremes collide. It’s not about hollow pathos or empty, unquestioning, marching heroism...”

Grimaud’s new Beethoven recording was named one of the top CDs of 2007. I waited forever for this CD to be released in local stores and now wish I had ordered it months ago, direct from Deutsche Grammophon.

Grimaud creates a vortex in her interpretation, with the fusion of pathos and sound. It is the shades and colors of feeling engaged in the text of her understanding of Beethoven that becomes the revelation of spirit. Grimaud has been called “a philosopher at the concert grand” but to me she is a poet’s musician and plays to the heart. Perhaps herein lies the intimate and empathic genius of her virtuosity.

Princess Haiku you have waited too long for this music, she thought. But upon hearing the new Beethoven Recording she knew the time was well spent. After all how often are we able to keep solace with the great master?

Thank you La Belle Helene.