Half a Pollini is better than none at all

By Alexander Hall, 02 March 2022

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“his Fabbrini Steinway, gleamingly dark as well as lambently crystalline in its upper reaches”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 1 March 2022

Schumann, Arabeske in C major, Op.18

Schumann, Fantasie in C major, Op.17

Chopin, Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor 'Funeral March', Op.35

Chopin, Berceuse in D flat major, Op.57

Chopin, Polonaise no. 6 in A flat major, "Heroic," Op.53

Chopin, Ballade no. 1 in G minor, Op.23

Maurizio Pollini, Piano

A Grand Master returns: Maurizio Pollini at the Royal Festival Hall

Mark Pullinger, 12th March

Pollini's love for Chopin and Debussy was evident throughout an intimate recital as part of the Southbank Centre's in the International Piano Series.

****1

Intimacy and exuberance in Schumann and Chopin

Mark Thomas, 13th March

With plenty of sparkle and spritz, Pollini laces his performances of Schumann and Chopin with intimacy and introspection in a programme of contrasting emotions.

****1

Maurizio Pollini proves that one doesn’t have to be perfect

Edward Sava-Segal, 21st May

At Carnegie Hall, a lion in winter focuses on Chopin.

****1

Passion and commitment: Maurizio Pollini

Frances Wilson, 14th March

Maurizio Pollini demonstrated why people still flock to hear him perform in sonatas by Beethoven and miniatures by Schoenberg.

****1

Profound and sublime: Maurizio Pollini rolls back the years

Mark Pullinger, 2nd March

A packed Festival Hall heard Maurizio Pollini recapture his glory years in sublime Chopin.

****1

An Elegant and Spirited Evening of Brahms and Strauss with the Staatskapelle Berlin

Christie Franke, 5th May

Maurizio Pollini, Caudius Popp, and Felix Schwarz shine in an evening of Strauss and Brahms with Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin.

****1

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.