Being said about Ahonen’s performances of Beethoven’s 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli
…academic performers are tearing their hair out, Beethoven is spinning in his coffin at a speed that could light up a small city, yet together it is a sheer delight. Ahonen possesses the very type of virtuosity that, as they say, “just is there”
Dina Yakuschewich 2021
Generations of pianists have been terrified by Ludwig van Beethoven’s 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli. Now a young pianist came and played it as if it was the most natural thing in the world
Der Standard 2014
Joonas Ahonen: precise, controlled, with blinding technique but also deep emotion, impressive dynamism but also moderation, with deep knowledge of Beethoven’s style he gave a fascinating interpretation of this masterpiece
Το Τέταρτο Κουδούνι 2019
Rarely, very rarely, in such large-scale compositions as “33 Variations”, each note is clearly “visible” … It seemed that music was born spontaneously, the way the performer imagines it at the given moment. The hall froze, spellbound by this action (I even want to write: “with an element of hypnosis”). Everything has changed – the performer, you, the surrounding space
Zvezda 2021
After the performance of the Finnish pianist Joonas Ahonen, the square in front of the Organ Hall turned into a discussion field.
“Real punk!”
“Hackwork”
“I don’t know how to review this”
“Explain to me as a musicologist, is it possible to play Beethoven so non-rhythmically?”
“This is the only way Beethoven can be played today”
Музыкальная жизнь 2021
Originality was extraordinary in the unusual interpretation of the Diabelli Variations, synthesis within synthesis, an immense masterpiece that Ahonen approached by demonstrating incredible technique, enriched by a brilliant and at times ironic interpretation
Voce Blu 2022
