Responding to Beethoven’s ‘Challenge’

Name: Responding to Beethoven’s ‘Challenge’
Uploaded: 2021-04-12T02:53:15Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: Caitlin was chosen by Maestro Avip Priatna because her piano performance, age and interpretation were considered fit to render the composition of Beethoven.

Caitlin was chosen by Maestro Avip Priatna because her piano performance, age and interpretation were considered fit to render the composition of Beethoven.

NINOK LEKSONO

· 5 minutes read

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Caitlin Aurelia Wiranata di sela Konser “Beethoven Forever”.

Young pianist Caitlin Aurelia Wiranata, 19, has appeared at the Beethoven Forever Concert to celebrate the 250th birthday of the composer. Caitlin was chosen by Maestro Avip Priatna because her piano performance, age and interpretation were considered fit to render the composition of Beethoven.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is known as one of history’s musical giants, with illustrious works ranging from the famed bagatelle “Fur Elise”, sonatas, piano and violin concertos to grand symphonies. For the violin, the composer, born in Bonn, Germany, only created one concerto and for the piano five concertos.

“Piano Concerto No.1 in C Major Opus 15” was picked by maestro Avip Priatna for the Jakarta Concert Orchestra (JCO), which he directed at the Beethoven Forever Concert. The event was organized online on March 31 (31/3/2021) and repeated on Wednesday (7/4/2021).

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Avip presented the very talented young pianist, Caitlin Aurelia Wiranata. He purposely gave the opportunity to a gifted young musician like Caitlin to appear in his orchestra.

Caitlin apparently didn’t want to disappoint Avip. Clad in a graceful green gown, she produced a stimulating piano tone with her lean fingers, starting from the initial part of “Allegro Con Brio” with a lively orchestral accompaniment.

Caitlin, now studying music at the Royal Academy of Music, London, as told by her mother, Cisca, has indeed aspired to play a piano concerto before she turned 20 years old. This is what has driven the musical journey that started when she was just 4 to culminate in her appearance with an orchestra and playing the musical genre mostly composed by such virtuosos as Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninov.

For Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No.1”, Caitlin made preparations for one month, from the moment when Avip offered her to become a soloist on Feb. 15 to her recording on March 19. While deepening her understanding of the work, she also needed to adjust her piano rhythm to Avip’s orchestral tempo. Before making her decision, she consulted her professor in London to ascertain if the piece she had never played before was suitable for her.

Despite her great talent, she fulfilled her responsibility for her readiness to play the concerto by training four to six hours daily amid her schedule of business management studies at the London School of Economics, which she attended online during the pandemic.

Playing the piano is exciting and exhilarating as I can unleash my expressions and ideas

Learning to play the piano from an early age in Yamaha Music School, Caitlin loves the sound of the piano.

“Playing the piano is exciting and exhilarating as I can unleash my expressions and ideas,” she said to Kompas early this week.

Although her ultimate goal is to become a concert pianist, she also has the urge to help disadvantaged communities. At the concert, Build the Future, along with Alicia Hartono (February 2018) in Jakarta, both young artists raised funds to build two schools in Central Java and help earthquake victims in Lombok, East Nusa Tenggara.

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Her community engagement has been apparent since she was a student at Binus University, where for the musical “Superego” show she acted as musical lead. She at the same time wrote songs and created the arrangements for jazz, pop and classical tunes.

The road to the Beethoven concerto soloist role had, therefore, been founded on her solid career track, including her recital of the work of George Gerhswin, “Rhapsody in Blue”, at the Symphony for the Nation concert in 2017.

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Caitlin Aurelia Wiranata during the “Beethoven Forever” Concert.

Future path

Now this young pianist with her piano performance that according to Steinway is “sincere” and with “deep personality” is treading her path toward becoming a concert pianist with a career in creating film musical scores. As she is fond of watching films, she was thrilled by such movies as La La Land, which was beautifully portrayed with the wonderful music created by Justin Hurwitz.

Starting her public appearance with “All Begin with (Johan Sebastian) Bach”, now Caitlin is also admiring Frederic Chopin, whose works are seen as very exquisite and majestic. Chopin’s music that demands virtuosity is regarded as very thrilling and challenging.

The challenge to a millennial like Caitlin, with her two fields of study, is certainly the capability to divide her time and focus. That’s why she has abandoned playing the violin and joined vocal lessons, joining the Resonanz Children Choir in many competitions, including several international championships.

Perhaps I want to seek some experience for a while if there’s opportunity. But in the long term, I’ll be back to Indonesia.

Today, her study necessitates her to return to London. She is prepared for it and even more so after she left a sweet souvenir for classical music lovers in the form of impressive performance at the Beethoven Forever Concert.

Asked if she thinks of pursuing a career in another country after her studies, Caitlin said, “Perhaps I want to seek some experience for a while if there’s opportunity. But in the long term, I’ll be back to Indonesia.”