Three beauties at my old Alma Mater today with some superb playing of the greatest works ever written for the piano,
Sherri Lun with the Schumann Fantasie dedicated to Liszt who in turn dedicated his Sonata to Schumann, that was played by Stephanie Ding Draughton.
And all this was possible because Schubert had forged the way with his Wanderer Fantasy that was played by Milda Daunoraite.There were side plates too of ravishing playing of great style and beauty . Sherri even included a Nocturne by Schumann’s wife Clara who had declared the Liszt sonata to be a horrible noise , luckily Robert was already on his painful way to a better world . Milda too gave ravishing performances of French music with a kaleidoscope of gleaming jewels that just balanced her heroic performance of Schubert .
Stephanie on the other hand decided that the only partner for Liszt was that other masterpiece by Chopin in the same key
Flowers excitement and tears of relief as their long journey to Parnassus was coming triumphantly to a close .
This is just the first step in the very steep ladder that awaits these star students on their long and difficult journey to share their music with anyone willing to listen
Sacrificing their youth to art but repaid in full with the fulfilment of having a treasure trove in their hands with jewels gleaming brightly and the satisfaction of having found their ‘soul’ and awaiting now ‘kindred spirits ’ to share it with .
My own journey started in 1972 winning the Macfarren Gold Medal on this very stage and following my heart to Italy where my music has always been a light shining brightly in a wonderful and unexpectedly colourful life! I am the happiest person I know ……to quote the greatest pianist I have ever heard.
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2024/03/20/christopher-axworthy-dip-ram-aram/
I hope theirs will be too illuminated always by music on the wonderful journey that awaits.
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 