American pianist completes Beethoven marathon in style with a little help from his friends.

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

June 20, 2014

Everybody loves a marathon and Emanuel Ax’s Australian long-distance Beethoven-Fest was no exception. With (more than) a little help from his friends David Robertson and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the American pianist breasted the tape to power across the finishing line in style this weekend in Sydney.

As a prequel, Brett Dean’s new commission Wings of Angels began with barely perceptible flutterings and flutings, and with some distinctly pungent harmonies. With quite a bit of it in six-eight time, the work developed quite a lilt and was beautifully coloured in terms of its orchestration (think Alban Berg). The work built to a couple of powerful climaxes, the first inspiring, the second a militant march, before sinking down into an almost post-coital oblivion complete with epilogue. The large orchestra played and sounded first rate throughout.

Beethoven’s Emperor was his last concerto of any kind and the first piano concerto that his encroaching deafness wouldn’t allow him to play himself – his friend and colleague Carl Czery gave the Viennese premier. Nevertheless, it’s a taxing work for the soloist and, despite being...