At the concert in the summer refectory of the Lambach Abbey, the 25 year old Italian musician Rodolfo Leone was able to introduce himself as the winner of the prestigious Beethoven piano competition of this year. With his Beethoven program, Leone with a delicate nuance of touch won already all hearts with the rather short and popular „Andante favori”. Actually, the "Andante" was separated after a friend of Beethoven's advised that the "Waldstein" sonata was too long, although Beethoven himself liked to play it very much and it was performed quite often. In Lambach, Leone received immediately a spontaneous and thunderous applause. He then played the famous "Waldstein" sonata for piano No. 21 C-Dur op. 53, a work created by Beethoven halfway his career, in which the master achieved a great form of exquisite harmony. Already in the „Allegro con brio“, the pianist carefully succeeded in retrieving the characteristic contrasts of the vibrant and sparkling eight note motion. While he played, his body was motionless, in full concentration. A dazzling atmosphere was created within a unusual harmonious setting. It was as if a master fell out of heaven - even though this was preceded by many stations in his career (Berlin, Pesaro and Los Angeles) and a lot of tough work with performances in the most important cities of Europe, China and the USA.

 

After the pause in the heated up refectory, Leone performed the so-called „Masterpiece“ of Beethoven's sonata works, the Sonate No. 29 B-Dur op. 106. With the full four movements and a thoughtful approach, the pianist responded to the high demands of this sonata and earned massive bravos, admiration and applause. A great evening with an artist with a name to remember.

Translation: Carlo Penna