As if Beethoven Himself

By Ina Wagner, Emder Zeitung, 13 August 2015

As if Beethoven Himself Were at the Piano

Pianist Hie-Yon Choi performed five Beethoven sonatas in the Church of Dunum

In her third appearance, the Korean pianist Hie-Yon Choi once again presented piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven—this year in the Church of Dunum—with remarkable style, virtuosity, and immense depth.

If you closed your eyes, you might believe that the great composer himself were seated at the piano. Choi approaches these sonatas with an intensity and conviction so powerful that one almost fears for the instrument. With extraordinary strength and speed, she commands the score—yet always manages to infuse the music with tenderness, intimacy, and pure joy. Her sound is energetic, her approach fearless, and she draws everything possible from the instrument. And although her technique appears completely natural and effortless, such mastery can only come from years of profound experience and rigorous training.

It is clear how much work Choi must have invested to perform these sonatas with such authority, confidence, and maturity—and all from memory, it must be emphasized. It is an astonishing achievement. Although she performed the complete cycle between 2002 and 2005 for large audiences in Korea, as the program notes tell us, a decade lies between then and now. One may be certain that this dedicated pianist has continued to study these works with unwavering commitment.

The program in Dunum culminated in *Les Adieux*, the celebrated sonata whose expressive range continually fascinates. Choi delivered it with a gripping sense of drama and a wondrous intensity that held the audience spellbound.

What a pity she did not appear again at this year’s “Sommer.” The disappointment was visible on the audience’s faces—they longed for another concert. For Hie-Yon Choi is an exceptional artist with a rare combination of musicianship and profound inner strength, conveyed with both solemnity and quiet grace.