Vassilis Varvaresos: An evening of inventive, dynamic piano

By Sarah Batschelet, 15 October 2015

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“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

Subtle magic: Zubin Mehta celebrates his 90th birthday in Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 3rd May

Zubin Mehta celebrates his 90th birthday with a concert at the Staatsoper Berlin.

*****

LA Phil celebrates the California spirit with Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Cameron Kelsall, 3rd May

The program features Maria Dueñas in Korngold's Violin Concerto and a moving tribute to LA native Michael Tilson Thomas

****1

Denis Kozhukhin: captivating storytelling with the London Symphony

Clare Varney, 1st May

At the Konzerthaus Dortmund, Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO are joined by Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin to plunge into the depths of despair in Bernstein’s melancholic The Age of Anxiety.

***11

Eric Lu brings scintillating Chopin to Singapore

Chang Tou Liang, 1st May

A world premiere by Wang Chenwei, familiar Chopin and a rare outing for Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta make for satisfying fare in Jahcun Wong’s Singapore Symphony programme.

****1

BBC Philharmonic’s bold but unbalanced Stravinsky and Adams

Leighton Jones, 1st May

Balance issues mar an otherwise compelling programme from John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

***11

More reviews...

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.