Pianist Finds Comfort in Beethoven's Struggle Pianist Adam Neiman relates to Beethoven’s musical obstacles.
by Emily Van Cleve
If pianist Adam Neiman had to pick a poster boy for a hardworking composer, Beethoven would rise to the top of the list.
"Beethoven represents hard work and toil," Neiman said by phone from the Seattle Chamber Music Festival. "He represents the human spirit's triumph over adversity. This is not to imply that he wasn't incredibly talented. But compared to Mozart and Bach, whose music seemed to gush out of them, Beethoven's music was difficult to write. It was autobiographical -- a direct window into his life."
The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus' summer concert, "A Beethoven Marathon," features works for orchestra, chorus and piano by the late 18th- to early 19th-century German composer. Neiman is the special guest artist who plays Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58, and Piano Rondo, Op. 50, No. 1, and Choral Fantasy.
He said he can relate to Beethoven's compositional struggles from the perspective of a pianist who has made tremendous sacrifices and worked incredibly hard to develop a career.
"It hasn't been easy," said Neiman, who started playing the piano when he was 5 years old and acknowledges aspects of childhood he gave up to pursue the life of a concert artist.
"For some musicians, this kind of life is torture. It's not that way for me, but it is difficult. Sometimes, when I look at the list of repertoire I'm playing in the upcoming months, it almost feels overwhelming because I know the amount of preparation it requires. Fortunately, I have developed a method of practicing that fosters fast learning. But I still have to work my tail off."
Neiman is particularly excited about playing Beethoven's fourth piano concerto, which he said is one of the greatest ever written. He described the work as having a huge cadenza in the first movement, a David-and-Goliath-like feel to the second movement where the piano and orchestra engage in a spirited dialogue, and an exciting, light and triumphant final movement.
"I haven't recorded any of Beethoven's music yet, but I was just thinking about it today," he said. "I'm taking a break from performing in the Seattle Chamber Music Festival to do a recital in Florida, where I'm playing Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31 in A- Flat Major, Op. 110. I was thinking that I feel ready to record it."
Neiman is beginning to call Santa Fe a second home because he has become a favorite guest artist for several musical organizations. He has performed with the Santa Fe Concert Association on multiple occasions and is making his second appearance with the Santa Fe Symphony.
