Another affirmation for a young musician who is fast becoming an artist to reckon with. Emanuele Savron has been studying with Marcella Crudeli for some years where I have heard him in her Masterclasses and also playing concertos with orchestra as part her Magisterium class that she holds each year giving guidance to carefully selected young musicians from every part of Italy .
Emanuele has always revealed a natural talent and under Marcella has acquired a refined musical palette ,but he lacked the discipline and hard work needed to become anything other than a talented amateur. Last year I heard him again in recital at the press launch of the International Piano Competition that Marcella Crudeli has been fielding with enviable energy and passion for the past thirty or more years. I was bowled over by the progress he had made .
A teenager had now matured into a young artist of great stature. An artist who has something to say and fast earning the means to say it.It was the great English pianist Clifford Curzon who said for a real artist playing in public requires ninety per cent work and ten per cent talent.The talent Emanuele has, as Marcella patiently acknowledged, but the work was sadly lacking until this extraordinary recital last year. Putting on my Sherlock Holmes hat I discovered that for the past few years Emanuele had come under the influence of Leonid Magarius at the piano academy in Imola.The great Russian school where there are no half measures, or you work all the hours needed or you are shown the door! Magarius is a well known and esteemed trainer of pianists such as Romanovsky or Lifits both winners of the Busoni Competition.http://www.margarius.com/biography.htm.
So the secret was out and a lazy teenager had decided it was time to seriously work at a professional career. Roma Tre under Valerio Vicari give important opportunities for young musicians to find an audience and his ‘Young Artist’s Solo Piano Series ‘ is just one of many initiatives that this dedication of Roma Tre University offers .They have also created a full symphony orchestra that gives graduate instrumentalists the chance to gain experience of playing in ensembles as well as in the orchestra. It is fast becoming a recognised reality as it has grown wings and recognition from the powers that be, to leave their nest at the Teatro Palladium and fly to many other important Italian cities.
I was not able to be at Emanuele’s recital but many of my friends were, and told me of his success crowned with three encores.More importantly Emanuele sent me many video recording of his playing of the recital.It took just one short recording of the opening of the Adagio from the Mozart Sonata K 332 to show what an artist this young musician has become.There are subtle inflections and a very individual punctuation that a true artist adds where the piano becomes a human voice and no longer just a box of hammers and strings. It is an illusion and the great artists are the greatest of illusionist. A jeux perlé in the outer movements where the ‘joie de vivre’ and rhythmic energy were combined in an operatic performance of vivid personality. It was Artur Schnabel who famously said the Mozart was too easy for children but too difficult for adults . Curzon would cover his scores with markings as he searched for the hidden meaning behind Mozart’s seemingly sparse scores.
There was the same personality and artistry in his playing of Rachmaninov and the Liszt Campanella was played with the ease and charm of the great pianist from the Golden Era of Piano Playing of Lhevine,Godowsky or Hoffman.
This is not intended to be a review but a celebration and Hosanna to Roma Tre who are allowing so many young musicians the possibility to mature and find their true artistic identities and a place in the professional music world.
To Marcella Crudeli who has always believed in Emanuele’s talent to the extent of playing with him in duo concerts.
And of course to Leonid Magarius for cracking the whip and inspiring so many young musicians to dedicate their youth to their art.
Not least to Emanuele who with dedication and hard work is making the ever difficult transition from a talented young musician to a great artist.
Chapeau to you all indeed !
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 