Real revelations at the RCM at the appearance in the UK again of Craig Sheppard.In the 1970’s when he and Murray Perahia won the top prizes at Leeds ,he became a real favourite playing regularly in London with the major orchestras. For quite some years now he has been missing from the concert scene in Europe. On todays revelatory recital and masterclass one demands to know why? All I can say is that we have been loosing a lot but Mr Sheppard has evidently been refining his quite considerable musicianship,together with a humanity and understanding that is very rare indeed. This is someone who really knows and has no intention of playing the know it all teacher and so with the superb young Ilya Kondratev it was a real meeting of minds and prepared to experiment to find the solution for one of two problems together. At one point he even said he felt like calling Beethoven so he could explain some of his ornamentation more clearly.That ,ofcourse ,would have fallen on deaf ears,Mr Sheppard! But it was the humility and wish to find the solution together that was so refreshing. The only other time I have encountered such helpful masterclasses where teacher and pupil were equals ,was at the RCM with Emanuel Ax. Great compliments to Vanessa Latarche,Ian Jones and of course above all Norma Fisher for convincing these wonderful artists to come to work together with the amazing talent that is being nurtured in a country that has always looked to the east or the USA for such potential. Welcome back Mr Sheppard some of us still remember you and look forward to sharing you with a new generation.
Autore: ChristopherAxworthyMusicCommentary
Graham Johnson at the Guildhall
Wonderful to be reminded that music,poetry,history and art are all a means of expressing human feelings and experience of life . And for Schubert such a short but full one. Sheer piano playing has no place here. Graham Johnson together with Menahem Pressler ,as Dame Fanny reminded me after hearing a song recital on the radio of Graham this spring ,are examples of piano playing that trascends the piano and music is allowed its true voice at last…….seems so simple but is ,in fact,so rare. Masterclass at the Guildhall today
Florian Heinisch at Steinway Hall
Interesting concert at Steinway Hall of the pianist Florian Heinisch for the Keyboard Charitable Trust. In the presence of the composer Sidney Corbett ,the world premier of his PostScript(to an unsent letter). A very evocative piece full of atmospheric sounds beautifully realised by Florian. Schonbergs 6 piano pieces op23 ,this very complex piece fully rendered without the score. If the classical repertoire did not have the finish or the polish of his contemporary interpretations ,the choice of Images lib.1 ,Bachs B major Prelude and Fugue BWV 893 and the rarely heard two movement sonata op 54 of Beethoven ,showed a refreshingly informed musical mind in his choice of repertoire Of course the real hero of the evening was Dott.von Bredow ,founder member and trustee of the KCT who has done more than anyone ,with his passion for music, to promote young artists,providing many concert engagements not only throughout Germany but expanding almost daily to include Turkey,Jerusalem and Spain. For he knows that it is only through playing in public regularly that these very gifted young artists can aspire to take their just place in the profession. Little could we imagine that Moritz von Bredow will have 97 patients tomorrow morning, clammering for his professional consultancy in his clinic in Germany. Passion for music and helping the young evidently has no limits at the KCT. “Hats off” indeed.
Simon Trpceski at the Barbican november 2015
A standing ovation and five encores for Simon Trpceski’s Chopin recital at the Barbican tonight. A Pogorelich type control of the keyboard but with such extremes of dynamics that the musical line was not always clear. What had happened to what Richter described as”the good old traditional cantabile”(describing with great love and admiration the art of Artur Rubinstein) Passing from first to fifth gear did not allow us,the audience,to follow the great musical line. Some extremrely beautiful,almost inaudible,sounds that the audience followed in hushed reverence.Here is a man who obviously loves the piano and is a supreme pianist in total control. Perhaps for this reason the last prelude op 28 and a little waltz so simpatically announced that he had played since childhood ,were the most satisfying performances. Maybe the simplicity of a child would be the clue to more coherent performances. However it was a very enjoyable way of ending a day full of glorious music making. What a place London is Cherkassky was right when he said it was the only place to live
ALEXANDER ULLMAN AT THE RCM 21st September 2015
Alex Ullman Prize Winners Concert at the RCM
All those that remember that very distinguished musician Kendall Taylor will be pleased to know of the Beethoven Competition at the Royal College of Music in his name .And I think Kendall Taylor in his turn would be very glad and proud to know that this year it is in the extraordinary hands of Alex Ullman.
Beethoven Prize – Chopin recital ………has no importance what is played when it is played like this .
All the sounds of the Golden Age of piano playing were here and the kaleidoscope of sounds extracted from this wooden box of strings and hammers was nothing short of magical.Actually a beautiful Steinway “D” but not always as evident as on this happy occasion.
Strange but very effective choice of opener with the so called ” Cat ” Waltz op.34 n.3 .Its fanfare type opening actually the perfect foil for what was to come.” Kitten on the Keys” came to mind for the velocity of the opening but that was soon put to rights with the total contrast and the refined,subtle colours that he found in the middle section .
Canons covered in flowers comes to mind as the Polonaise Fantasie was unveiled and given its true place as one of Chopin’s greatest works.. Grandure,nobility,virtuosity was all here and the subtlety of the return of the main theme revealed the true meaning of Cortots'” avec un sentiment de regret” so clearly written in my copy years ago by his disciple Vlado Perlemuter.
The great A flat Polonaise at the end was given a young mans’ performance full of verve and passion and the left hand octaves beautifully played allowing the right hand to sing as so rarely heard since Rubinstein.Missing perhaps the aristocratic heroism and timing that will come with maturity.
The B flat minor Scherzo too given a thrilling account with such subtle contrasts.Infact all through the concert his wonderful sense of balance was apparent allowing the piano to sing as only a great singer could do .The Berceuse and two nocturnes were remarkable for this and many other reasons notably the nobility and strength in the nocturnes.
Golden Age of Piano Playing live and well and one is reminded of that other great english pianist Stephen Hough so admired by Shura Cherkassky the master of them all for subtlety,nuance and colour .
Book soon for Alex’s Chopin recital at the Wigmore Hall on Sunday the 28th February for the Keyboard CharityTrusts’ Prizewinners concert, before the word spreads .
THE MIRACLE THAT IS ALBERTAZZI
The Miracle that is Albertazzi
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Last night at Ostia Antica in Rome .Giorgio Albertazzi’s memorable interpretation of Marguerite Yourcenar’s Memorie di Adriano.
Remarkable ” tour de force” by what must surely be one of the greatest actors of the age,Now unbelievably in his 92 year ,Over an hour on stage in what is the essence of Yourcenars famous story of Adriano.
In fact you could say that Albertazzi is Adriano so intense and concentrated is his one man performance it draws the public in to his almost intimate confessions.
Accompanied only by some very atmospheric sounds mainly fomr Evelyn Megnaghi and with the regal presence of Stefania Masala and another two actors Albertazzi held the stage alone for over an hour.A veritable feat of memory but also of comunication … this is the real art of an actor and what a lesson he gave all those fortunate enough to have been present in this magical setting.
Even the ” Gods” were silenced by il Maestro for the rain storm that delayed the start of the performance was abaited right until the very last line when the heavens opened up again..When Albertazzi speaks even the Gods must listen
JAMAL AND ANNA at Mansfield Street
JAMAL AND ANNA at Mansfield Street
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From the heart to the heart you could say .
Beautiful recital by last night .Three big works magnificently played.The Rachmaninov Sonata ,in particular,played with realconviction and almost without the score it was so much part of them ………and led on to a wonderful Chopin Polonaise where Jamal abandoned the score completely and they were in their element.As Barbirolli once said about Jaqueline du Pre, sometimes criticised for playing with too much passion and warmth but how he loved it for he said if you don’t play like that in your youth what will be pared down later.
Oh what it is to be young and so talented and lets hope that they will go a long way together ……Anna even had a heart shaped neckless just incase we had not noticed!
BEATRICE RANA WIGMORE HALL 1ST MARCH 2015
BEATRICE RANA WIGMORE HALL 1ST MARCH
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Extraordinary recital…………..from the first note to the last ……maybe the Bach too much non legato but the beauty of sound and perfection of musical thought were to be treasured ,The Chopin Funeral March Sonata and the 3rd Scherzo were treated as the master works they are.The recapitulation in the first movement of the sonata remarkably original and made one want to re look at the score ……it was that sort of musical event.La Valse was and extraordinary showcase for all her finesse ,colours,virtuosity and above all sense of line. The Chopin prelude op 28 n.13 was simply divine ……………Welcome to London Miss Rana we need you ……………
MAGNIFICENT MARCOS
Magnificent Marcos
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What a treat the other day after gazing at the most marvellous Caravaggios in S.Luigi Francesi and S Agostino there in the Sala Accademica next door in the Pontificio Istituto della Musica Sacra was the most amazing recital of Cuban music for the 80th anniversary of relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Vatican .All this on the very afternoon that President Obama was to declare in America the official re-opening of relations between America and Cuba.
Amazing virtuoso piano pieces all based on typical dance rhythms had us all not only clicking our heels but admiring the absolute control of the pianist.
A magnificent Fazioli concert grand rather too bright to be able to savour the subtlety of colour and the amazing independence between the hands .All abundantly clear on the magnificent instrument used for the recording that has just been released for Academy recordings .And after this treat another one at Prof Franco Carlo Ricciprivate gathering of friends with Michelangelo Carbonaraoffering a much more sober programme of Beethoven Liszt and Brahms ……all superbly played on a 1890 Pleyel .Both Marcos and Michelangelo helped by the Keyboard Charitable Trust and more interestingly students of William Grant Nabore at the International Piano Academy Lake Como .Even more interesting was that that very night Dmitry Masleev,also a student of Nabore was declared Gold medal winner of the Tchaikowsky Competition in Moscow.A night to remember you might say and what a way to start the merry month of July,
PONTINE FESTIVAL FINAL CONCERT
PONTINE FESTIVAL FINAL CONCERT
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What a way to end this 51st festival .
A stunning performance of Mendelssohns Double concerto for violin and piano performed by Roberto Prosseda and Fabrizio von Arx with the Camerata du Leman brought to an end the 51st Pontine Festival.
Roberto Prosedda a complete musican from the school of Sergio Cafaro and Fabrizio von Arx from the school of Corrado Romano .Both spending much of their youth in Sermoneta and so formed in this remarkable summer school founded by Menuhin and Szigeti in the 1960’s . The virtuoso demands met in full by Roberto with that beautiful cantabile that was so evident in his performance the day before of the Emperor Concerto by Beethoven.Fabrizio von Arx showing all his latin blood in the lush melodies of this rarely heard concerto.By great demand a scintilating virtuoso encore of Bazzinis La Ronde de Lutins had a smile on Robertos face,and us too, as he tried to keep up with Fabrizios tracendental virtuosity.The very fine Camerata du Leman followed them with all the verve and energy that they had shown in a very refined performance of Corelli’s Concerto Grosso op 6 n.4 and an energetic performance of Mendelssohns early 2nd Symphony for strings .Quite a nostalgic night as it recalled my student days in Dartington,that other great summer school, when the Academy of St Martin in the Field under Neville Marriner would regale us with these early string works of Mendelssohn.Very honoured to have the presence of Arch.Cerocchi President since the 1970’s of the Pontine Festival and also responsable for the transformation of the old granary into one of the most beautiful concert halls in the beautiful cistercian complex of the Fossanova Abbey
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 