A feast of phenomenal pianism: two-piano gala at Kings Place

A packed audience congregated in Wigmore Hall’s temple to pay homage at a very special concert in which Martha Argerich joined Stephen Kovacevich to mark his 75th birthday. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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