BWW Reviews: ALL BEETHOVEN - NJSO at New Jersey Performing Arts CenterJune 10, 2015Beethoven's Coriolan Overture was originally written for the theatre. It was composed in 1807 for a performance, not of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, but of Heinrich von Collin's Coriolan. This is a dramatic piece of music with two themes one representing Coriolanus' resolve and war-like tendencies, while the more tender represents the pleadings of his mother to desist. The music is angular with deep chords illustrating angonized turmoil.
BWW Reviews: NJ SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at NJ PacMay 19, 2015Andre Watts is in love with the piano and the piano loves him. What other musician holds such a fascinating relationship with his instrument, offering a full bodied, playful, passionate, mesmerizing performance of Beethoven's and Grieg's Forth Piano Concertos. His playfulness almost recalls Chico Marx on the keyboard with elegant, caring, zippy flourishes in Beethoven's lighter movements. For the more serious tones of the piece, Watts offers a more restrained, sterner touch.