I don’t think I
have been to a solo piano concert since I was at school. Julius Katchen.
Lili Kraus. But, since I seem to be doing all sorts of things this season that
I haven’t done for a long time: why not! Johannes and Luisa were going, Paulie
said the pianist was grand, the programme was deliciously NOT Bach, Beethoven
and Buononcini … and the concert was at the Piano Salon Christophoroi, where I
had such a grand time last year. Go for it!
It was perhaps not
the ideal evening to choose: straight after my introduction to Lily and her
knuckles (see previous article) … but after a spinach and chickpeas supper, and
a walk (another one) to the Pankufer … I was ready.
The first act was
made up of pieces by Rameau, Bizet, Granados and Schultz-Evler, two composers whom
I know only from their operas and Schultz-WHO? Arabesques on Strauss’s ‘Blue
Danube’? Are they serious?
Well, serious was
the last thing this selection was. Mr Kotaro Fukuma had chosen the perfect
programme for me. The Rameau was an utter surprise. Nothing like his gloomy
monumental operas. Crisp and tinkly, quite lovely. Then Bizet. Well, I’m no
German linguist, but these six pieces were born as ‘Chants du Rhin’ which I
don’t think is the same as ‘Bilder von Rhein’, and songs – without words – were
exactly what they were, with their solo voice careering along above the
twiddles. I have to admit that I was irresistibly reminded of ‘The Dream of
Olwen’ and ‘The Glass Mountain’ of my childhood piano days! And jolly good fun
too.
A little bit of Goyescas was predictably enjoyable, and
then came Herr Schultz-Evler. Well! I don’t think I’ve had such pianistic fun
in years! It was pure Thalberg: little bits of the stated theme drowned in
gallons of trills, twiddles, arpeggios, scales, flourishes, the more
extravagant the better, all concocted simply to show off the pianist’s
technique. And Mr Fukuma kept a straight
face throughout. The audience loved it and so did I. I laughed right out loud.
At the interval,
things changed. First, the star came back with a change of costume. Secondly,
the funnies were gone and we were into the more serious stuff. Ravel, Debussy
and Liszt. The trouble was … well, the costume replaced the original modest black, with
.. with .. well, the most Liberace outfit you can imagine. White scarf and
shawl attached at the elbows … it looked totally impracticable and unsuitable
for playing anything but Schultz-Evler. But play he did. The lovely sounds of
Ravel and Debussy swept indiscriminately around the room (well, they can sound
rather similar), and we finished on two Liszt ‘legends’.
I suppose Liszt
worked on the same principle as Thalberg and co. Terribly technical stuff to
show off the composer’s ability for getting as many notes into a second as
possible. But where the ‘Blue Danube’ drew great fun from the idea, Liszt …
well, I don’t think I care deeply for his music.
I know Mr Fukuma
is a widely-known and successful artist, and I guess it would be a bit
lese-majestical to expect him to play music like that of part one to the
exclusion of more substantial pieces, but … I did so enjoy the first half … I
was a little sorry when it turned into Liszt.
But all in all,
another first-class night out at the Piano Salon. I must get there again before
they close their season ..
PS I find that Mr
S-E’s ‘Blue Danube’ piece has remained popular with pianists for more than a
century. Well, it was new to all of us …!
No comments:
Post a Comment