Akiko Kuki

As time goes by, the beautiful melodies and scenic descriptions scattered throughout this work have become more deeply ingrained in my heart.
When I close my eyes, the tranquil forest scenery, the chirping of birds, the murmuring of water, and even nostalgic childhood memories come back to me. (For a performer, expressing these things is extremely difficult, and the piece is always one that puts a lot of pressure on them.) And it's not just the depiction of the scenery; Beethoven is said to have said that he "expressed his emotions through music." My favorite, the fifth movement, expresses Beethoven's gratitude to nature and prayer for peace amid his own suffering. And the phrase quietly played by the violin at the end of the fifth movement is like a precious treasure. It's at this point that I think of the phrase "return to the earth." This is a piece that will gently comfort you when you're in pain, sad, or tired.