La Roque d'Anthéron Piano Festival
Two recitals in one evening: Charles Richard-Hamelin in Mozart, Chopin and Schumann; then Arcadi Volodos in Schubert. Great weather: not too hot but a beautiful Provençal evening for al fresco music-making. Richard-Hamelin (2nd prize in the Chopin competition) was very impressive: fine Chopin but really good Schumann (First Sonata) which he played with aplomb but great feeling. Volodos was, simply, sublime: last two piano sonatas, magisterially played. He has a wonderful way of letting the music breathe - he knows the importance of allowing notes to die away - as well as sing. I doubt if I will ever again hear such fine performances. Predominantly French audience did that deeply annoying French audience thing of rhythmically clapping and foot-stamping so that they got their, "bis". I sometimes think that they care about wringing as many encores out of the performer more than the actual performances. Encores after late Schubert seem a bit otiose to me but they got four of them. All characteristically thoughtful. The steak frites between recitals was pretty good, too.
Two recitals in one evening: Charles Richard-Hamelin in Mozart, Chopin and Schumann; then Arcadi Volodos in Schubert. Great weather: not too hot but a beautiful Provençal evening for al fresco music-making. Richard-Hamelin (2nd prize in the Chopin competition) was very impressive: fine Chopin but really good Schumann (First Sonata) which he played with aplomb but great feeling. Volodos was, simply, sublime: last two piano sonatas, magisterially played. He has a wonderful way of letting the music breathe - he knows the importance of allowing notes to die away - as well as sing. I doubt if I will ever again hear such fine performances. Predominantly French audience did that deeply annoying French audience thing of rhythmically clapping and foot-stamping so that they got their, "bis". I sometimes think that they care about wringing as many encores out of the performer more than the actual performances. Encores after late Schubert seem a bit otiose to me but they got four of them. All characteristically thoughtful. The steak frites between recitals was pretty good, too.
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