Continuing his annual tradition of Masterclasses at Steinway Hall in London and this year presenting two young EPTA award winning pianists from his annual class in Buenos Aires.
Together with four brilliant pianists based in London, il Maestro of Maestros shared not only his immense knowledge of the musical scores but also the extraordinary humanity that this remarkable renaissance man has been sharing with the world for a lifetime.
Just a week ago he was celebrating here with his lifelong friend Martha Argerich , gathered thanks to the generosity of Steinways in an after birthday concert reception for the 85 years of their close friend Stephen Kovacevich.
Next year Alberto and Martha will be celebrating their coming of age too, but in the meantime these eternally youthful musicians are sharing their remarkable musicianship with a world where quantity seems always to take precedence over quality.
Starting the final concert of his course this year, with the greatest work ever written for violin by Bach and recreated by Busoni for the piano.
Nazareno Gimenez from Argentina played the mighty Chaconne in D minor with beauty of sound and musicianly architectural understanding.
Followed by Parvis Hejazi a graduate of Norma Fisher at the RCM playing Haydn’s B minor sonata with refined good taste with a sparkling jeux perlé and ornaments that were highly wound springs glistening like jewels in a prism . Unleashing, on an unsuspecting public, the Prokofiev third sonata with dynamic drive and burning intensity. https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2025/07/12/norma-fisher-the-making-of-a-legend/
This was complimented by the exquisite good taste of Roxanna Shini Mehrabzadeh with the poetic refinement of two of Chopin’s most flowered canons . A languid beauty to ‘The Maiden and the Nightingale’ was followed by a Sorrowful springtime song by Rachmaninov alla Earl Wild .
The second half of the concert began with Alfred Conte, a young graduate of Maura Pansini at Rome conservatory and perfecting his studies in London at the Guildhall with Ronan o’Hora and Alexander Soares https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2021/10/07/ronan-ohora-at-razumovsky-academy-simple-grand-beethoven/ https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2024/02/05/alexander-soares-at-st-marys-with-curiosity-and-intellectual-mastery/
With such a pedigree it came as no surprise what musicianship he brought to Schumann’s teasing twins, whilst trying to unite them in their eighteen dance steps together of Davidsbündler. Giving a strong bass anchor to the proceedings as he managed to create a unified whole of ravishing beauty and extraordinary characterisation.
Another first time visitor to London, the Argentinian Esteban Arámbulo, playing THE prelude by Rachmaninov. A work rarely heard in the concert hall these days , but that Rachmaninov was obliged to offer to his audiences if he wanted them to leave the hall! A majestic performance of aristocratic authority that was preceded by Debussy’s miraculous depiction of ‘Reflections in Water’ that eventually his golden fish would wallow in, during his six ‘images’ etched with ethereal beauty.
Gabrielé Sutkuté closed the concert with three of Beethoven’s early baubles that she truly turned into gems! A masterly performance of Szymanowski’s early Variations where passion and intelligence were united with dynamic drive and searing commitment.
What a celebration of the values that this Renaissance man so generously shares with young musicians every year, thanks to the generosity of Wiebke Greinus ,concert manager of Steinway London.
Steinway & Sons are about to celebrate their 150th anniversary on the 13th November in this very hall where the sound of sumptuous music making from Vinkingur Olafsson and many of his illustrious colleagues will resound to the popping of Champagne corks .
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 