Sarah Walker presents a programme of highlights from this year's Schwetzingen Festival. One of Germany’s biggest musical events, the festival takes place amidst the rococo splendours of the palace at Schwetzingen, not far from Heidelberg.
Today, Brahms's magnificent Piano Trio in C minor is followed by Beethoven's A minor Violin Sonata played by and Isabelle Faust with Alexander Melnikov on the fortepiano. And to end: Melnikov puts that instrument through its paces in one of Mozart's most adventurous and expressive works.
I sometimes wonder about the accuracy of the BBC’s programme descriptions. Being told in advance of a live Proms concert how inspiring the performance will be is just plain daft, yet it’s been a feature this year.
But when it’s a recorded concert, there’s no excuse for getting it wrong, and the BBC, to its credit, didn’t try to ‘big up’ Alexander Melnikov’s performance of Mozart’s C minor Fantasia. Quite frankly, I was surprised that this performance was broadcast at all, for it cast a fine pianist in a poor light, with frequent technical errors and crazy, mannered rubato. Normally I wouldn’t be so critical of a pianist, for in most cases, I would know it would still be better than my own efforts. But this was different. Had I played like this, would have fought to ensure that it was not broadcast.
Today, Brahms's magnificent Piano Trio in C minor is followed by Beethoven's A minor Violin Sonata played by and Isabelle Faust with Alexander Melnikov on the fortepiano. And to end: Melnikov puts that instrument through its paces in one of Mozart's most adventurous and expressive works.
I sometimes wonder about the accuracy of the BBC’s programme descriptions. Being told in advance of a live Proms concert how inspiring the performance will be is just plain daft, yet it’s been a feature this year.
But when it’s a recorded concert, there’s no excuse for getting it wrong, and the BBC, to its credit, didn’t try to ‘big up’ Alexander Melnikov’s performance of Mozart’s C minor Fantasia. Quite frankly, I was surprised that this performance was broadcast at all, for it cast a fine pianist in a poor light, with frequent technical errors and crazy, mannered rubato. Normally I wouldn’t be so critical of a pianist, for in most cases, I would know it would still be better than my own efforts. But this was different. Had I played like this, would have fought to ensure that it was not broadcast.
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