Start of a trilogy
The Piano Sonatas Nos. 13 and 14, the Piano Fantasy op. 77 and the Choral Fantasy op. 80 are the components of the first CD of See Siang Wong's Beethoven trilogy.
He has already attracted attention with some unusual projects: the pianist See Siang Wong, who lives in Switzerland and teaches at the Zurich University of the Arts. For example, he has initiated a "compendium of new Swiss piano music" and has recorded chamber music versions of concertos by Chopin and Beethoven. He is now dedicating an entire trilogy to Beethoven, which is primarily devoted to lesser-known works by the Bonn master. The first CD is entitled "Fantasia". He has recorded the Fantasia op. 80 in C minor for piano, choir and orchestra - with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (conductor: Leo Hussain) and the Vienna Singverein. The disc also includes the Piano Sonata No. 13 in E flat major "Quasi una fantasia" and, as a prelude, the anything but unknown Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor. It was given the nickname "Moonlight Sonata" by the poet Ludwig Rellstab after a boat trip on Lake Lucerne.
Thus, at the beginning of the trilogy, which is actually intended to be dedicated to rarities, there is first of all a contribution to the epic discussion of how Beethoven's notorious, solitary pedal instruction at the beginning of the Moonlight Sonata should be interpreted. András Schiff repeatedly pleads for a brisk alla breve tempo, but with a consistently sustained pedal; he considers this to be Beethoven's intention. See Siang Wong sees a reference in the Adagio to the scene after the death of the Commendatore from Mozart's Don Giovanni. He also keeps the pedal depressed throughout, but chooses the very slow tempo that has become commonplace in most interpretations. The result is a delicate, impressionistic soundscape on the Steinway D-274 concert grand, which is more coherent than Schiff's somewhat gruffly merging harmonies.
The Choral Fantasy was recorded in April 2019 in the Great Hall of the Radio Kulturhaus Vienna and the sonatas in January 2020 in the SRF Radio Studio, Zurich. ORF and SRF are also co-producers.
Beethoven Trilogy 1: Fantasia (Piano Sonatas No. 14 and 13, Piano Fantasy op. 77, Choral Fantasy op. 80) See Siang Wong, piano; RF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Singverein, conductor Leo Hussain. Sony Music RCA Red Seal 19439800512
