Exceptionally gifted virtuoso pianist makes welcome return
to Durban. (Review by Michael Green)
The Czech pianist Lukas Vondracek is the son of two
professional pianists. He gave his first concert at the age of four, made his
first international tour at the age of 10, and made his New York debut aged 16.
He is now 28 and he is an international celebrity, having
built a big reputation while visiting 33 countries in Europe, North America,
the Far East and elsewhere.
He played in South Africa two years ago and created a huge
impression on audiences here. Now he is back, and a recital for the Friends of
Music at the Durban Jewish Centre confirmed that he is an exceptionally gifted
virtuoso pianist.
He presented a varied programme that included some beautiful
music that was probably unknown to most members of the audience. His keyboard
manner is unusual. He adopts a hunched, almost crouching, position and plays
with intensity and unwavering commitment.
He opened with Mozart’s Sonata No. 10 in C major, K.330, one
of the finest of the composer’s 19 piano sonatas. Vondracek adopted quite a
bold, firm approach to the music, and the result was totally compelling.
Then followed three dances by his Czech compatriot Bedrich
Smetana (1824-1884). These were brilliant, extended pieces, running for about
15 minutes and quite advanced for their time (they date from 1879), with unusual
harmonies and strong rhythms. They were played with great zest and skill.
A Capriccio by the Hungarian composer Erno Dohnanyi
(1877-1960) was another challenging work, difficult but not, I thought , as
attractive as the Smetana pieces.
Another Czech composer, Josef Suk (1874-1935), son-in-law of
Antonin Dvorak, was represented by some lovely melodious pieces.
The pianist completed his programme with a magnificent
performance of Schumann’s Etudes Symphoniques, Symphonic Studies, written in
1837. This is a big, difficult work, a mixture of poetry, drama and spectacular
keyboard display. At times it was almost as exciting visually as it was
aurally, but Lukas Vondracek always showed his ability to look beyond the
dazzling technique into the subtleties of the music.
An ovation from the audience brought forth a Brahms encore.
The Prelude Player of the evening was a skilful recorder
player, Amy Diack. With Bobby Mills at the piano she played two pieces, a
movement from a concerto by the eighteenth century composer Giuseppe Sammartini
and the well-known Czardas by Vittorio Monti.- Michael Green
Friends of Music acknowledges
the support of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
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