Prokofiev from the hands of a young Tuscan artist with sounds sculptured in marble of authority and dynamic drive that he must have in his blood from his home town of Massa where Michelangelo would choose marble slabs that he would turn into statues that the world had never seen since Roman times.Baubles into gems ?
Nicolas Ventura was not only monumental but also possessed the refined beauty of Da Vinci that lays hidden in much of Prokofiev’s scores. They are also full of refined poetry and visionary sounds of extraordinary poignancy not only being manhandled by bombastic percussive declamations that many lesser artists would have us believe!
Playing with great authority as a star student has become an artist to reckon with .
His two mentors Tatiana Sarkissova and Dina Parakhina looking on with great admiration and awe of the sacrifice and dedication that true artistry demands.
Breathtaking virtuosity too as Prokofiev like Rachmaninov were both master pianists.
But they were above all poets of keyboard capable of reaching deep into their Russian souls to reveal the yearning nostalgia and pianistic genius that was their birthright .
There was the ravishing improvised beauty of the innocuous Andantino of the second movement to be transformed into tempestuous outbursts of extraordinary ingenious invention and vision.
Has the inquisitive questioning of the ‘meno mosso’ in the last movement ever sounded so chameleonic as it led to a melodic outpouring of Rachmaninovian fervour before shooting off with clusters of notes that would have put Charles Ives to shame.
An ovation that if we were in Italy would have been rewarded with many encores.
However the orchestra after warming up with a superbly Hollywoodian style Sicilian Vespers (surely the inspiration for Korngold’s magical Californian sojourn),were now raring to show us their true mettle with Mahler’s ‘Titanic’ Symphony that some have even considered as Beethoven’s 10th .
A performance of youthful energy and passion expertly guided by the veteran of this remarkable ensemble ,James Blair.
Shots below taken also in rehearsal which revealed the professional quality of this youthful orchestra funded only by private or corporate means that has for forty years provided a bridge between college and the profession giving students a real advantage with experience of the major classical repertoire, realistic rehearsal schedules and performances in the great concert halls of the country.
It also gives a magnificent opportunity for young soloists to perform with a major orchestra in London the recognised capital of Classical music.
And now Nicolas Ventura a star shining brightly indeed :
Nicolas Ventura at St Mary Le Strand Elegance and Beauty combine with intelligence and mastery
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/…/nicol…/
Here are the most recent , but there are many ,many more.
Gabrielé Sutkuté plays Grieg with the YMSO under James Blair at Cadogan Hall
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/…/gabri…/
Misha Kaploukhii plays Rachmaninov Beauty and youthfulness triumph
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 