David Soo – David Soo Plays Beethoven

A journey through Beethoven’s piano sonatas.

David Soo is a prize-winning Australian concert pianist who has performed throughout Australia, Asia, and in Europe as a solo recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist. He was the previous winner of Melbourne Recital Centre’s Great Romantics Competition. His consummate authority and passion make for wonderfully evocative performances.

About the concert

His performance in Primrose Potter Salon presents a collection of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. Beethoven was arguably one of the most influential composers during the classical period. His innovative approach towards form, textures, harmonies and surprises embodies a new spirit of individualism that dominated pianism and musicianship in the romantic period.

Opening with the grand and dramatic ‘Pathétique’ sonata, Soo recites this work of great emotional depth, which echoes Beethoven’s strength of character. Followed by Beethoven’s first piano sonata, which was composed in 1795 and was dedicated to his teacher and mentor Franz Joseph Haydn. The recital concludes with the composer’s penultimate piano sonata No.31, which explores human sympathy to rough country humour, then finally from operatic despair to the safe harbour of consolation, resolve and triumph.