It’s not common to see a full hour of solo harp music, incorporating music of many types from late Baroque to the 21st century. It has left me far better educated as to the breadth of which this instrument is capable.
His build is blocky like the hockey defense-man he once was, but Denis Matsuev’s fingers can touch piano keys lightly as butterflies landing on begonias. The mood of his solo recital opened blissfully, like the January night by the fireplace described in Puskin’s poem “By the Hearth” which inspired the first of the twelve monthly miniatures Tchaikovsky published as The Seasons, Op. 37b.
Playing three 45-minute concerts in one afternoon is a herculean triumph. Even if done badly it is still a triumph. Mikhail Rudy did that and fortunately did it very well. The three concerts took place on Sept. 10 at King's Place as part of their festival. The theme of all three was the Russian literature, which is rich with colorful, majestic, exotic and challenging pieces.
Radu Lupu ließ einst verlauten, nur die Komponisten zu spielen, die zu ihm passten, beziehungsweise die, die ihn am meisten mögen. Diese Worte werfen noch heute Licht auf seine Konzerte. So auch auf den Abend, den er im Pierre-Boulez-Saal gab.
Le vendredi 15 janvier 2016, deux concerts s'enchaînaient à la Salle Cortot: à 20h, du Brahms, puis à 21h30 du Tchaïkovski. Les interprètes, tous plus excellents les uns que les autres, ont partagé avec le public un moment d'une intensité exceptionnelle.
