Jozef De Beenhouwer

Why look miles away when one of the greatest pianists lives just around the corner? Partly due to his own modesty, he has not always been given the praise he deserves in his home country. Jozef De Beenhouwer can be viewed as one of a long line of great romantic pianists, starting with his teacher Lode Backx. Together with Alfred Brendel, he studied under Edwin Fischer, who in turn had been a pupil of Liszt. All are scions of a rich tradition, with an exceptionally cultivated tonal culture and a highly tuned ear for counterpoint. De Beenhouwer is every inch a romantic. The way he caresses the keys and makes the grand piano sing is unparalleled. His veins hum with a churning passion. Schumann's music is where he feels most at home. 'Kreisleriana', his neck-breaking series of character variations, is one of his favourite pieces. In this schizophrenic fresco of aphoristic mood changes, De Beenhouwer still succeeds in maintaining an enormous elasticity and sense of direction. With a finely nuanced colour palette, he paints the moving tonal landscapes of light and shadow in Schubert's final sonata. Come and witness De Beenhouwers' declaration of love for the piano.