Dramaturgie mit Fantasie: Beethovenfest Bonn (21.9.-9.10.)

Highlights the 2001 Beethoven Festival, which was held recently in Bonn, under the direction of Thomas Daniel Schlee and the theme "Beethoven Variations," which sounds much less original than it in fact was. Praises Schlee for creatively filling the 50-concert program with a high degree of fantasy and elements of surprise. Calls Viennese pianist Rudolf Buchbinder's performances of Beethoven's "Piano Sonata op. 111" and "Diabelli Variations" very impressive. Mentions a performance by the WDR Rundfunkorchester of Franz Schmidt's "Concertante Variationen über ein Thema von Beethoven für Klavier und Orchester," which he wrote for one-armed, left-handed pianist Paul Wittgenstein, and which was marvelously performed by Markus Becker. Talks about performances of several other works.