Vassilis Varvaresos: An evening of inventive, dynamic piano

By Sarah Batschelet, 15 October 2015

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“he seemed to make his piano truly live and breathe”

Reviewed at Tonhalle: Kleiner Saal, Zurich on 14 October 2015

Mozart, Piano sonata no. 12 in F major, K332

Papanas, Piano Suite: Danse Macédonienne

Rachmaninov, Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, Op.36

Prokofiev, Piano Sonata no. 6 in A major, Op.82

Schumann, Arabeske in C major, Op.18

Vassilis Varvaresos, Piano

Two Left Hands in Istanbul: Piano Concertos from Sermet and Varvaresos

Gavin Dixon, 9th June

Ravel and Prokofiev offer divergent views on the piano left-hand concerto, but fine performances ensure satisfying contrast.

****1

Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Hallé in Mahler and Vaughan Williams

Leighton Jones, 16th April

Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder provide an apt, if somewhat unexpected, partner to Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

****1

A special relationship renewed: Leonard Slatkin returns to Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th April

Leonard Slatkin returns to the Prague Symphony Orchestra with one of his own pieces, a Schubert tribute that steals the show.

****1

Cummings and the AAM win ‘Leipzig's Got Talent’

Nick Boston, 16th April

The Academy of Ancient Music poses the question what might have been in Leipzig with stunning performances of Bach and his competitors to be the new Thomaskantor.

*****

Kinan Azmeh offers a sampling of delights with St Luke’s

No’a L. bat Miri, 15th April

As part of St Luke’s ‘Visionary Sounds’ series, Kinan Azmeh joined the chamber ensemble to play a variety of his own compositions.

****1

Carlo Rizzi brings Respighi’s Rome to Birmingham

Robert Gainer, 15th April

Carlos Rizzi believes that Puccini’s orchestrations are good enough to stand alone, without their vocal lines, but can the drama compete with the romance of Respighi?

****1

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Sarah Batschelet

Sarah Batschlelet, long based in Switzerland, took a degree in Art History from Smith College, Northampton, Massachuetts, and lives as a freelance writer and editor near Zurich.