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No nonsense joy in Kissin's Beethoven at the Barbican

By Nick Boston, 07 February 2020

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Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 6 February 2020

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor "Pathétique", Op.13

Beethoven, 15 Variations and fugue for piano in E flat major "Eroica Variations", Op.35

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 17 in D minor "Tempest", Op.31 no.2

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 21 in C major "Waldstein", Op.53

Beethoven, Bagatelle for piano, Op.126 no.6

Beethoven, 6 Variations on an original theme for piano in D major, Op.76

Beethoven, 7 Bagatelles for piano: Allegro ma non troppo in C major, Op.33 no.5

Beethoven, 6 Ecossaises for piano, WoO 83

Evgeny Kissin, Piano

Evgeny Kissin leaves a trail of happy hearts at the Barbican

Christopher Woodley, 31st March

With a spring in his step, Evgeny Kissin returns to Barbican Hall and gives well-wrought accounts of Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and Schumann.

****1

Evgeny Kissin and friends explore Shostakovich at Carnegie Hall

Edward Sava-Segal, 31st May

A chamber programme of Shostakovich’s private idioms and public masks

****1

From Bach to Shostakovich, Evgeny Kissin a commanding force

Sam Jacobson, 7th May

Anchored by the piano music of Shostakovich, Evgeny Kissin’s Cleveland recital also explores works of Bach and Chopin.

****1

You Want it Darker? Evgeny Kissin’s dark-hued San Francisco recital

Michelle Assay, 20th April

Evgeny Kissin delights an overwhelmingly enthusiastic San Francisco audience with Chopin and Shostakovich, but his Bach is less convincing.

****1

Odd couple: Goerne and Kissin are mismatched in Cleveland recital

Cameron Kelsall, 14th April

A program of Schumann and Brahms fails to cohere due to fussy mannerisms and tentative playing.

**111

Intrigue and emotion in Evgeny Kissin’s captivating Barbican recital

Marat Ingeldeev, 17th February

Kissin’s magnificent performance includes a touching tribute to Alexei Navalny.

****1

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Nick Boston

Nick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here.