Great celebrations at the beautiful Romanian Cultural Embassy with a pre launch presentation of Cristian Sandrin’s new CD that includes the remarkable first Sonata by Enescu.

A National hero celebrated every year,in Bucharest and throughout the whole of Romania with a festival and international competition in his name.
Cristian gave a superb performance of this two movement work with its bleak second movement after the brilliance of the first.

With Enescu looking on from the mantelpiece we were treated to a performance of great rhythmic energy and a subtle kaleidoscope of sounds.A performance of weight and authority of a masterpiece that deserves to be heard more often in the concert hall.
The concert had begun with two Petrarc sonnets by Liszt that were played with ravishing sounds and passionate conviction.

It was a concert without a printed programme and so after the interval we were astonished when Cristian announced that he would now play Beethoven’s Sonata in E op 109 and Chopin Sonata in B minor op 58!
Reminiscent of Andras Schiff who prefers not to be tied down years in advanced to a specific programme but knows the public will trust him to play only the greatest of works.He had appeared on the Wigmore Stage recently and after the interval had announced quite casually that he would now play Beethoven’s monumental ‘Hammerklavier’Sonata!
Wilhelm Kempf would regularly arrive at the recording studio and simply ask ‘what would you like me to play today?’
Cristian like Schiff is a superb musician who is mentored by that great musician Imogen Cooper.Everything he plays is imbued with intelligence and beauty. https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2022/05/17/cristian-sandrin-plays-goldberg-variations-the-start-of-a-lifetime-journey-of-discovery/

An architectural shape which creates a great arch of noble importance where the details are not of prime importance as much as a structure that is constructed like a great cathedral on rock.
A lesson of musical integrity and serious intent that was bequeathed to him by his recently deceased father the renowned pianist Sandu Sandrin.
The school of Enescu of an age of complete musicians at the service of the music .
And what music was heard tonight!

Beethoven’s last thoughts on the sonata opened in a magic cloud of insinuating beauty only to be interrupted by Beethovenian outbursts of majestic nobility.Driving rhythms of the second movement with its relentless energy left Beethoven free to express his inner soul with the sublime theme and variations that followed.
Beethoven’s ever more present celestial trills created streams of sound on which floated on high the theme before laying to rest weary and barely able to whisper the final heart rending return of the magical opening.

A masterly performance and bodes well for Cristian’s performance of the Beethoven Trilogy in the LSO Barbican at St Luke’s on the 26th April.An unmissable opportunity to hear Beethoven’s last thoughts from a musician whose integrity and musical intelligence are impeccable. https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2022/02/25/cristian-sandrin-a-message-of-hope-and-peace-in-florence-the-cradle-of-our-culture/

Chopin’s B minor Sonata completed this marathon recital.Notable was the ravishing masculine nobility that he gave to the second subject of the first movement and the mounting excitement he brought to the final rondo.
Playing of nobility and architectural weight that lent to Chopin a strength and shape that made one aware of what a revolutionary genius he truly was!