First was Imre, who after a brief and perhaps nervous Bach’s «Prelude & Fugue in F minor, Book 1» did a marvelous rendition of Italo-British Muzio Clementi «Sonata in F-sharp minor, Op. 25, No. 5», which, to this day, is a showcase of the range of the piano. By the time Imre was finished, I was thoroughly impressed by the 20 minutes of piano he played from memory, though, as I would soon realise, all of today's pianists played without a music score.
Next came Angela on stage, and I was thoroughly surprised by her speedy & accurate arpeggios (and judging by the look of other attendees, I wasn't alone), which were so quick, they seemed like glissandos, in the «The cat and the mouse» of Aaron Copland.
Last was Elijah, who, amongst others pieces, played a heartfelt rendition of Cécile Chaminade’s «Automne» which highlighted the importance of emotional maturity above technical prowess, as the beauty of this work is in its restrained intensity, as it is always in the verge of bursting yet somehow held in check.
In the end, the hundred or so attendees seemed very pleased to have spent an hour in Christ Church, even on a beatiful, sunny day, such as this.
Published on the 21st of May