a tale of two pianists

Early yesterday evening and earlier this afternoon, I attended two piano recitals.
That's right: me, the one who rarely tunes in to GPB or PBS, the one who rarely attends the symphony (unless the physicist is in tow).
I had thought I had volunteered for these Savannah Music Festival events to broaden my aural palette, or at least that's what I told myself. However, I'm beginning to think Mama and Grandma might have pushed me into the events when the volunteer spots recently opened up.
I know they would have greatly enjoyed them.
They would have enjoyed the setting, also, in the Trinity United Methodist Church on Telfair Square.
I did, too.

Recitals III: Stephen Hough, piano

6:00 PM
Friday, March 27th

My photo was taken after the recital.
Gorgeous piano, isn't it?
Such a soaring lid, beautifully mirrored on its inside surface!



Hough's program was as follows.
Debussy: La plus que lente
Debussy: Estampes
Chopin: Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Debussy: Children's Corner
{I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
II. Jimbo's Lullaby
III. Serenade for the Doll
IV. The Snow is Dancing
V. The Littel Shepherd
VI. Golliwogg's Cakewalk}
Debussy: L'isle joyeuse

There were also three encores! The first and third were short pieces by Frédéric Chopin, with a kicky little number by Ludwig Minkus tossed in the middle for laughs.
Seriously! The man has a delicious sense of humor.

Recitals IV: Murray Perahia, piano

3:00 PM
Saturday, March 28th

This photo was also taken after the performance, but this time, the lid is closed.
It is the same piano, but is more solemn here.



Perahia's program was as follows.
Bach: French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817
Haydn: Sonata in A-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:46
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a "Les Adieux"
Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue, Op. 21
Chopin: Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20

He was in attendance for Hough's performance, so he had seen the audience's appreciation of encores. He granted us two, a Chopin Nocturne and a Robert Schumann piece.

The two men had vastly different styles.
Stephen Hough is regarded as a Living Polymath, as he has great talents in painting, writing, and piano. (In another century, he would have been a Renaissance man.) He was almost casual in his approach to the music. When the piece was in a slow portion, he leaned back and seemed to allow his fingers to lightly fall upon the keys. As the tempo became more intense, he would loom over the keyboard, pounding the life into them. For the lilting tones, he would almost prance in his seat, with his fingers dancing above the keyboard. His overall mien was utter enjoyment and relaxation. I very much enjoyed both the pieces he had chosen as well as his style. He was a joy to watch!
Murray Perahia was much more intense at all times. The phrase "Perahia pursues and pounces on piano keys" keeps echoing in my mind, as that is the mental image I have of him. For every piece, he was intently hovering over the keyboard, hands racing up and down as he pounced on every note. So much energy!!! He was incredible to watch, perhaps even more so as this is his 40th year as a pianist.
Amazing!
I've found two videos in which both men are playing the same piece, Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata". That way, you can watch Hough and Perahia for yourself and see the difference in their styles.
Okay, I'm off to the bluegrass again!
So much music, so little time!!!
(smile!)