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Such physical involvement,reminiscent of Sviatoslav Richter, was totally convincing when combined with playing of such simplicity and refined musicianship.What better example could there be of the Russian paradox of piano playing – Sturm and Drang indeed, and hardly surprising as he is a supreme representative of the School of Elisso Virsaladze . Dearly missed Elisso this year – she has been advised to rest this summer after her total dedication to her students has left her with doctors orders to stay at home.Ever concerned for her students Elisso has sent her assistant Jacob Ketsnelson to keep her students on the straight and narrow and I hear that he is constantly in contact with her about their progress .Her students are enthusiastic about his dedication and help that he is able to give .He is also a wonderful companion di viaggio for Elisso’s remarkable class.Just like the great professional she is , Elisso never to abandon her wonderfully gifted students- she has sent the best and everyone is very grateful .

Mozart A minor Sonata played with a rhythmic energy and totally convincing musicianship very reminiscent of that other great teacher Guido Agosti .No sentimentality but real sentiment within the confines of Mozarts perfect form.Not an easy lesson to learn but here played to perfection.The second movement played with a involved simplicty and beautiful cantabile and contrasts that showed all Emanuel’s mastery in a hall where there was no help from a very resonant acoustic and noisy happy people glad to express their” joie de vivre” in the square outside.

Virtuosity in abundance in the Scriabin Fantasy op 28 and Schumann Humoreske op 20 ,but allied to such beautiful cantabile and flights of fancy in the Schumann …. again reminiscent of that other supreme Russian master Sviatoslav Richter .

Two encores of Chasse Neige by Liszt and an Etude Tableau by Rachmaninov showed off his real virtuoso technique that had been subtly hidden but very much evidence for all those aware of the tour de force that we had been privileged to hear in a hall that was obviously more used to banquets and Musica Antiqua .

The whole class from Sermoneta had made the 80 km journey ably organised by Tiziana Cherubini and Elisa Cerocchi ( sandwiches also provided) determined to allow all the students to see what their goal might be.For Emanuel has been present in Sermoneta for many years and one could say a real product of the serious nature and heritage( that goes back to Menuhin and Szigeti)of the Pontine Festival .

Jacob Katsnelson was of course the first to congratulate Emanuel and we are all looking forward to his recital at Fossanova on Sunday in place of Elisso .I am sure he is on the phone to Elisso even from Moscow determined to keep an eye on her prize students even from afar.What a feast of Music there is in this area thanks to the Pontine Festival now remarkably in their 51st year .

Sad news this morning of the passing away of that great critic Bill Newman in London ,our great link to the golden era of Walter Legge….they don’t make ‘em like that anymore – it was a privilege to have known him

Astonishing tour de force by Angela Hewitt this week at her annual Trasimeno Music Festival .

Two concerts a day in some of the most beautiful theatres that one can find in every unexpected corner of Umbria and Le Marche.

The first concert of the day today in the beautiful theatre in Bevagna – beautifully restored and thankfully air conditioned for the concert at 16h repeated at 21.15 in Angela’s hometown of Magione on Lake Trasimeno in the open air of the Castle of the Knights of Malta …….with a fresh breeze blowing from the shore of Lake Trasimeno.

A spanish programme that was heard this winter at the Wigmore Hall in London.

If we came out into the tropical heat of the delightful main square ( 40 degrees in the shade) clicking our heels and stamping our feet it was due to the stamina and rhythmic impulse that Angela gave to the music .Even transporting her own magnificent Fazioli from her nearby home to give us the maximum possible of refined sounds..

This,of course is what we have come to expect and admire in Angela’s Bach playing.The subtle colours of the song allied to the strong unfailing rhythms of the dance .

Even more evident here was also the supreme virtuosity of the Fantasia Baetica by De Falla contrasting with the sumptuous seductive sounds of The Maiden and The Nightingail by Granados.

Strong playing of the Scarlatti sonatas, too, so often played as miniatures.Each one here given its own voice and character .

What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon – far away from the crowded beaches with this lovely audience listening to this magnificent music in rapt attention.

Now we know where all the Wiggies spend their holidays .As always the most refined discerning of listeners .Their secret is out….who knows perhaps Angela next year will have to give three concerts a day to satisfy the demand .You have been warned Dear Angela

Did you get to see Alex on streaming ………this is how it went …………not available  on you tube  unfortunately although a recording might become available.

Ashkenazy was  presented with the RCM’S Honours – together with Kiri Te Kanawa – by Prince Charles on Thursday morning .

In the evening  and Friday 13 he conducted the RCM Orchestra with Alex Ullman – Berlioz Benvenuto Cellini/Chopin Concerto n.2/ Debussy Apres Midi and La Mer .

” What a great evening of music making .Sitting in front of the log fire in Italy enjoying all these wonderful young musicians loving every minute of Ashkenazy’s evident joy at the sounds they were able to find together.

Alex Ullman looks and plays like a young God I have said that before and never has it been more evident.( I mean of course the way he sits at the piano as though he were born with a keyboard in his lap).

Has the entry into the last movement ever been played so naturally? – Not since Ashkenazy himself I bet….and what an encore so effortless and with such poetic contrasts. (op 10 n.5 Black Keys Study  )- he played Chopin Nocturne op 55 n.2 the first night.

A young mans Chopin – a poet – with age he may take more time and savour the poetry even more like his great idol Artur Rubinstein .

Magnificent Debussy from the orchestra such sense of line and colour …………………..

Please oh please let us have more of this.”

Alex played Rachmaninoff n.1 last May and by great demand is invited to close our(Keyboard Charitable Trust) Rachmaninoff  Cycle (with the Orchestra Regionale Marchegiana in Pesaro-Teatro Rossini/Ancona/Fabriano 6/8/9 May ) with Tschaikowsky n 1 ! Jason Gillham will play Rackhmaninoff n. 4 ( Vitaly Pisarenko has played n.2/3 and Marcos Madrigal Paganini ). What a line up !

All best wishes Christopher

Nice important crowd even if we were expecting many more- had a good talk to the Rai 5 man – a great friend  and collegue of Norma Gentileschi ex correspondent for the Pope at the RAI.Tried to persuade Angelo (Bozzolino director of the new film about the S.Cecilia Orchestra and films on Liszt and Chopin) to release the hour and a half interview he recorded in the theatre of Charles Rosen …I don’t think  he realises the importance of that document – a very small and rather insignificant part, compared to what he actually said , was actually used in the film.  I told them both you should not play down to the public but get them to look up…..just what Alex did last night.Q.E.D.

As Sol Hurok said ” if they do not want to come you cannot stop them”

They will not know what they missed.From  the intoxicating sounds rarely heard on the Ghione stage these days to  the Pugliese delights prepared  just for us by Roberta,my wonderful theatre manager,  afterwards.

Remarkable concert and that was only a part of the evening.

A real Knight in armour coming to the rescue of a Damsel in distress ……..Alex ended up in Mac Donalds at 4.30 am much to the delight of the rif raff whose company he rather enjoyed ……he did not want to disturb me late at night and waited until 8am to come back home!I bet they were not used to seeing a young knight dressed in dinner jacket and all at any time of the day or night!

A real gentle    man.

His stallion was a taxi and his sword had no effect on a rather irate hotel manager …. hence he sought refuge in Mac Donalds as a lot of people do around train stations, I believe!

The best Chopin 4th ballade …….at least that’s what he made you believe ……amazingly subtle Beethoven …none of the Gould nonsense ………..and even Bill (Nabore director of the Piano Academy in Como) had to admit the phenomenal control of colour in the Debussy.

I had to clap very loudly to get him to get back to the order of programme that he had asked me to announce .  We almost had another Pablo- Osvald situation on our hands ………….

The ectatic performance of Chopin’s E flat nocturne op 55 reminded one of the ” star” in Scriabin and what subtle counter melodies ” old style” . The “Blackkey” study thrown off like a little tone poem and finally  everyone very moved not only by the dedication to “his friend Pluto” but by a Funeral March that must be without equal.Pluto was my dog that Alex helped me to nurse in these few days whilst he was a guest in my country home, giving recitals on the Radio RAI3 in Rome on Friday  and in Viterbo University on Saturday.

He looks and plays like a young God ……thats what I thought a year ago and I stick by it even if our other great talents a green with envy ……a talent like this is very rare indeed.Spent the day after the concert looking at the video that I made of his performance – a real lesson of his own making and then the Monseigeon Richter video that neither of us had seen for too long.In between Rubinsteins Chopin n.2 several times in preparation for his own performance in a few months time.Very interesting the link between Lechetitsky- Schnabel …………….Matthay to his present day teachers William Fong,Fleischer ,Mc Donald – they all taught in the same way ………to listen and as Dame Fanny would say ” to mould” something they don’t do any more …….she is right but here is one that still does.

All best Chris P.S. did not mean to write so much now …..but the amazing talent of this real young artist is irresistable……………

Magnificent concert at Bocconi on Thursday – Alex already booked for next year –

Vitaly played as he always  does …..it would be hard to believe that during the third piece of the Fantasy pieces by Rachmaninoff at the beginning of the concert he saw the door of the green room open and then saw, via the glass windows at the side of this beautiful modern hall,someone walk off with what looked like – and was – his bag.At the end of the Rachmaninoff we saw Vitaly tear off stage and the hall tecnician came to tell me that Vitaly had run out of the hall …by the time I had got outside Vitaly was already playing the ” Moonlight”.

In the interval we heard from Vitaly that his bag with all his documents/computer/telephone and 800 euros had been stolen .We all tore outside in the hope that the bag would have been thrown away minus the money but at least we would find the precious  documents – that for a Russian are like gold dust.

No luck.

Vitaly insisted on playing the second half: Prokofiev 6  – Luckily one of the War Sonatas and he certainly let them have it – never has that sonata been played with such a vengeance- magnificent.

He even insisted on playing an encore whilst the police were waiting for him.

Bach Siloti – he played it for me – but then Vitaly is not only a wonderful pianist but a very special human being.

We spent the night in the questura – Roberto Cominati ( who was expecting to dine with us after- he won Busoni in 1993 and is a great pal of Mr Furcht)took us and there we stayed until 2.30 after which we went back to the Hotel to sleep  …at least thats what I did but Vitaly told me after that he returned to the University to look everywhere for his documents.

Having done everything possible – Vitaly wanted to wait until Monday to see if the documents would turn up before returning to Milan to the consulate where he must find two russian citizens who would testify  for him in order to get a document to return to Moscow on Wednesday.

Luckily  he was going on to Petrushansky in Imola – who is also a great friend of Robert Furcht- and he insisted that Vitaly go there as planned – which he did yesterday- I returned to Rome and am trying to obtain information that may be helpful to Vitaly on Monday/Tuesday to get back to Moscow and then the re activate his student visa for then UK without having to pay 300/400 gb and wait 3 months.

Vitaly rang after his four hour lesson with Petrushansky on Rachmaninoff op 39 that he already plays incredibly well.

I told him to eat something not touch any alcohol and go to bed.

He must have done that as both  Petrushansky and I  tried to ring to find out how he was ….no reply….good sign that he is getting ready for the real battle at the consulate on Monday/Tuesday.

Such a nice man Petrushansky he rang me early this morning for Vitalys new number ( we did that in Milan Station yesterday with my document because he has none!).He like us all  have come under  Vitalys spell.

The question now is how can we make this easier for him ………………..The Bocconi have activated their insurance ….which is fine as they are responsable …….but it is the burocracy that needs to be dealt with.

We are just hoping that the documents might turn up before Monday.

Anyone who has any ideas please contact Sarah ………….Vitalys new number is 0039 344 1796499Best to contact him on messenger or E mail …..a friend in Imola has already lent him a computer …but then he has so many friends – he is that sort of guy….very special.

Tonight was quite grotesque …….

The Mozart Ok.

Some beautiful moments mixed with some rather ordinary rather rhythmic playing.

Like his Bach- Mozart could just about take it .

Chopin is another thing ………..rubato reduced to dotted rhythms like the baroque French Overture Style …..the opening of the first Ballade!The opening of the fourth was so wayward as was the third it made you quite sea sick.

Then he throws his left hand onto the keyboard and the right way in the air and he is off………..fifth gear all the way…….like the clunk of a steam engine about to make a run.

The most awful moment was the last quiet chord before the coda of the fourth – fortissimo with an added octave in the bass!

And off we went full speed to the most grotesquely awful ending imaginable .

I could not get out fast enough –bumped into Giuliano Ferrara (,famous television political reporter and editor of Il Foglio) we were the only two seeking escape.

“Ghastly” I blurted out in English- “Absolutely” he replied and remembered I had last seen him at Barenboims Ring Cycle at the Proms-

Oh Danny boy what have you done!

To say the codas of the first second and fourth were like Czerny would be an insult to Beethovens pupil but I think you get the idea .

The public loved it like lambs to the slaughter …………

Rondo alla Turca as an encore – heard on the car radio escaping as fast as possible- made you realise this is Tom and Gerry ……..the boy has never grown up and was having a ball at Chopin’s expense

Lang Lang murdering Chopin ‘s 4 Ballades to 3000 people and who knows how many with TV live and streaming.

Standing ovation they told us over the radio.

Behzod Abduraimov’s not perfect but wonderful performance in comparison at the Filarmonica, the day before, to 30 people just shows what power the mass media has today.

Appearances are everything apparently …

Oh Krystian Zimerman- Murray Perahia where are you.Give us another chance!