Pianist Dang Thai Son

(VNS)- Beethoven's complete concertos will be performed in Viet Nam by the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra and renowned pianist Dang Thai Son on Friday.

In 1980, Son became the first Asian pianist to win the First Prize and Gold Medal at the International Chopin Piano Competition. Since then, his international career has taken him to over forty countries. He last performed in Brazil and Tokyo in the 2012-13 season. In recent years, he has frequently come back to perform in Viet Nam.

He spoke about the marathon concert.

This is your biggest concert ever. How do you feel?

I want to stress that this performance is different from my previous ones in Ha Noi. It is the biggest concert of mine since the Chopin competition. Normally, a soloist plays one concerto with the orchestra. But this time, I will play as a soloist for the whole night, which will be very stressful.

I usually come back two days earlier for rehearsal, but this time I have to spend five days practising. This will be the first time all the concertos by Beethoven will be performed in Viet Nam, and it's a rare event for the world as well.

Before bringing the Beethoven marathon concert to Viet Nam, I performed it in Brazil last September.

It's a lot like sports. A 100m run and a marathon require different techniques. I have experienced playing concertos many times, but never in such a marathon. It's exciting.

I begin with classical concertos 1 and 2. The third is stormy and agitated, while 4 is gentle and lyrical and 5 is grand and majestic. Re-creating the style of Beethoven's works will be a challenge for musicians. But I feel confident that under conductor Tetsuji Honna, both the audience and musicians will gain a new appreciation for the form.

How do you feel about bringing the marathon concert to Viet Nam?

I have prepared for the concert for 30 years. But I was still nervous - until last September, when I performed in Brazil. After Brazil, I knew I could do it. And when I performed the concert for the second time - in Tokyo last November - I solved problems that came up in the first performance.

Viet Nam is the third place where I have performed the marathon concert. So I'm a little more secure now. Playing concertos with the orchestra is like a conversation between two people – you need to strike a balance. Luckily, conductor Honna and I know each other well. We have worked together for a long time.

In Viet Nam, the classical music world revolves around the Romantic period because most Vietnamese musicians study in Eastern Europe. I think the concert will be a good chance for Vietnamese music lovers to enjoy Beethoven's music, from concertos 1 to 5. The linear format will help audiences understand the creative progress of the composer.

In what style will you play the concertos?

I intend to play the concertos with different styles from classical to romantic to combine my style and the composer's. I will play concertos 1 and 2 with a classic style but be freer in 3 and 4. The musical notes are like a code that I need to unravel.

Music is not like painting. Interaction between the artist and audience is necessary. The musician acts as a go-between to turn the musical notes on the page into vibrant music full of life. Like an actor playing different roles on stage, I hope to show that Beethoven used many styles.

I chose Beethoven for the marathon concert even though my name is often associated with Chopin. Beethoven's work is like an encyclopaedia that includes all the moods of humanity. His music inspires me a lot.

Can you be creative in your performances?

Artists need to perform with respect for composers' styles. I think the musician's characteristics should not overwhelm the composer's intentions. There are many arguments about this issue at international music competitions. This depends much on the musician – and the composer.

There are composers like Bach, who are very open. He encourages musician to feel free to play how they want. He usually leaves blank spaces in the tempo. Beethoven is the same.

On the contrary, Chopin and Mozart are not open. It would be scandalous for a musician to play their music without respecting their style.

Is playing Beethoven concertos challenging or inspirational for you?

I love and want to be inspired by the emotion in Beethoven's music. One thing everybody knows is that playing Beethoven needs to be experienced.

The concert has also been my dream for 30 years. My teacher Vladimir Nathanson in Moscow Conservatory suggested I play Beethoven. Now I can turn this dream into reality. I want to dedicate the concert to my teacher. — VNS