Dominic Piers Smith with the LPO
DVD Review
Beethoven
he story of Dominic Piers Smith is surely
T one of the most astonishing of any pianist
in recent years. Here is a very gifted young
man, winner of the Yamaha Prize in 2007, IMMORTAL BELOVED: depression and thoughts of
whose first CD release, a double-album of Beethoven suicide, something made very
music by Chopin and Liszt, has just been Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbe, evident in a letter Beethoven
made available. So far, so good – the more so Isabella Rossellini, Valerie wrote to his two brothers in
as his prize included a performance of Golino, Miriam Margolyes, 1802 while in the town of
Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto with Barry Humphries. Heiligenstadt. A morose,
the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the ICON10158 120” despairing document, it was
outstanding young Norwegian conductor £12.99 RRP on DVD and found after Beethoven’s death
Einvind Gullberg Jensen at the Royal Festival £24.99 RRP on Blu-ray Disc and became known as the
Hall on 14 February. Heiligenstadt Testament.
But – in addition to a burgeoning concert riginally released by Col- “...it was impossible for me
and recital career – Dominic Piers Smith has a
twin full-time career in racing-car aerodynam-
O umbia TriStar in 1994 this wonderful
film has now been released on DVD and Blu-
to say to people, speak louder, shout, for I am
deaf. Ah, how could I possibly admit an
ics, his first design winning the prestigious ray for UK audiences to enjoy. Did I say enjoy? infirmity in the one sense which ought to be more
Indianapolis 500 at the hands of Juan Pablo I mean love! This simple tale is based on a perfect in me than others, a sense which I once
Montoya. Dominic is also Team Leader of an letter that Beethoven wrote to a mysterious possessed in the highest perfection, a perfection
aerodynamics development group for the lover. The true identity of this lover is lost to such as few in my profession enjoy or ever have
Honda Racing Formula 1 Team. There cannot history forever, but the fun of this film is in the enjoyed.”
be that many pianists who have played a investigation of who she may have been. Schindler’s work takes us to meet possible
Rachmaninov Concerto with a major inter- The film begins with the opening of recipients of the love letter, one of whom is the
national symphony orchestra at London’s Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony’s first movement be