Alexandre Kantorow roars in recital at the Festival de Pâques

Alexandre Kantorow

By Mark Pullinger, 10 April 2023

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“tearing into the music with athleticism and steely determination”

Reviewed at Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence on 9 April 2023

Brahms, Piano Sonata no. 1 in C major, Op.1

Liszt, Der Wanderer, S.558/11 (after Franz Schubert D649)

Liszt, Der Müller und der Bach (transcription from Die Schöne Müllerin by Schubert) S 565 no. 2

Liszt, Fruhlingsglaube, S 558 no. 7 (transcription from Schubert)

Liszt, Die Stadt, S 560 no. 1 (transcribed from Schubert's Schwanengesang)

Liszt, Am Meer, S 560 no. 4 (transcribed from Schubert's Schwanengesang)

Schubert, Fantasia in C major "Wanderer Fantasy", D.760

Liszt, Ständchen, from Schubert's Leise flehen meine lieder, D 957, S 560/7

von Vecsey, Valse triste (trans. Cziffra)

Liszt, Abschied, Russisches Volkslied S 251

Mozart, Piano Sonata no. 11 in A major, K331: Rondo alla Turca (arr. Volodos)

Alexandre Kantorow, Piano

Alexandre Kantorow in recital: a pianophile’s dream

Sam Jacobson, 16th April

A daring mix of rarities and late masterpieces at Severance Music Center confirms Alexandre Kantorow as a pianist of both staggering technique and uncommon depth.

*****

Paavo Järvi marks his new LPO appointment in Tchaikovsky and Sibelius

Mark Valencia, 4th March

Paavo Järvi demonstrates just why the London Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen him as its next Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor.

*****

Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 26th June

Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s charismatic leadership and the Orchestre Métropolitain’s seamless unity brought Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Tchaikovsky to life in a gripping, deeply expressive Hamburg performance.

*****

Saint-Saëns illuminated by the Orchestre National de France in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 29th April

A sumptuous exploration of Saint-Saëns at Lotte Concert Hall in a programme forming a cohesive tapestry woven from the composer’s fascination with colour, all traced back to a distinctly Parisian sensibility.

****1

Thrilling Liszt and Bruckner from Kantorow and the Philharmonia

Roy Westbrook, 9th May

Alexandre Kantorow dazzles in Liszt’s Piano Concerto no. 2, against Bruckner’s mighty, unfinished Ninth Symphony. Manfred Honeck and the Philharmonia win new friends for both composers.

****1

Transcendent talent: Alexandre Kantorow makes Wigmore Hall debut

Roy Westbrook, 20th March

Laden with the most prestigious prizes, Alexandre Kantorow makes a virtuosic hall debut, but with a poetic cause.

*****

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Young lion: Alexandre Kantorow roars in recital at the Festival de Pâques