In July 2016, American pianist Jonathan Biss impressed Melbourne audiences with his fine performances of a Mozart concerto. Now he is back, this time with one of his many Beethoven-related projects, perhaps the most ambitious of them all.

Considered one of the great Beethoven interpreters of our time, 44-year-old Biss performs and records with the world’s leading orchestras and soloists, has published several important books including Beethoven’s Shadow in 2011, teaches in major music schools and, with Mitsuko Uchida, has co-directed the prestigious Marlboro Music Festival for the past 15 years.

Jonathan Biss. Photo supplied

Biss is also an ardent advocate for contemporary music, and has created new platforms to bridge his passion for Beethoven and the present day. Five years ago, the St Paul Chamber Orchestra commissioned five composers to create new works to accompany each of Beethoven’s piano concertos. They are a mixed and eclectic bunch, beginning with Timo Andres, then Sally Beamish, Salvatore Sciarrino and Caroline Shaw. The last of these is the Australian composer Brett Dean, partnering with the Piano Concerto No 5, ‘the Emperor’.

Biss premiered Dean’s piano concerto Gneixendorf Music, a Winter’s Journey with the Swedish...