Blanc et noir: pianistic contrasts from Kovacevich and Argerich

By Mark Pullinger, 03 November 2015

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“the inky bass growls in... the Symphonic Dances, threatening Wigmore Hall’s very foundations”

Reviewed at Wigmore Hall, London on 2 November 2015

Debussy, En blanc et noir

Rachmaninov, Symphonic Dances, Op.45

Schubert, Piano Sonata no. 21 in B flat major, D.960

Rachmaninov, Vocalise, Op.34 no.14

Stephen Kovacevich, Piano

Martha Argerich, Piano

Alina Ibragimova, Violin

A feast of phenomenal pianism

Frances Wilson, 8th October

A remarkable evening of exceptionally fine pianism and inventive programming, featuring seven of the UK's leading pianists in rich and varied repertoire.

*****

A mixed offering from Kovacevich in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 24th September

An effective Bach, a disappointing Brahms and a generally satisfactory Schubert: Kovacevich fails to grip in Dublin.

***11

Stephen Kovacevich plays the "three Bs" in Birmingham

Peter Marks, 14th March

Though born in America, Stephen Kovacevich has lived in London since moving there to study with the great Dame Myra Hess at the age of eighteen. He clearly has a special rapport with British audiences, as his amiable manner in discussing his encores demonstrated.

***11

Scaling the heights: Sydney Symphony play Beethoven and Strauss

Oliver Brett, 17th February

Beethoven was certainly not afraid of breaking traditions. He broke several long-held Classical traditions in his Piano Concerto no. 4, and no break was more revolutionary than beginning a concerto with the solo instrument. It was in this way that the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy opened their latest musical offering at Sydney Opera House.

****1

Au TCE avec Stephen Kovacevich sur les chemins du Wanderer

Alain Lompech, 12th April

De Brahms à Schubert en passant par Beethoven, le pianiste de 85 ans a proposé un voyage d'une éloquence folle, sans jamais hausser le ton ou forcer l'auditeur à le suivre.

*****

L'hommage rendu à Stephen Kovacevich à la Philharmonie

Alain Lompech, 15th October

Entouré de Martha Argerich, Géza Hosszu-Legocky et Edgar Moreau, le pianiste britannique a réservé aux spectateurs de la Philharmonie une soirée de légende.

*****

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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.

Blanc et noir: pianistic contrasts from Kovacevich and Argerich at Wigmore Hall