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First time ever at the International Piano Festival at Williams:
Ilya Itin playing Scriabin (Five Preludes, Sonata No. 4 in
F-sharp, Op. 30), Rachmaninov (Variations on a Theme by Corelli,
Op. 42), and Tchaikovsky (Suite from "Sleeping Beauty").
Itin, a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory,
has an undemonstrative, understated style, quite different
from the flamboyant, head-thrown-back, hands-poised-in-the-air
approach many pianists take today. As the cliché goes, he
"plays within himself". There is nothing understated about
the sound he produces, however, and he filled Chapin Hall
- actually about half full of warm bodies this night - with
an often ringing, bright, fulsome tone.
It was a superior performance: the Scriabin pieces provided
an effective launching pad for the Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky.
They were full of cascading chords and seldom less than fortissimo.
Subtlety does not come to mind when you think of Scriabin,
but this is not meant as a criticism. Much of what I have
heard, tonight and on recordings, I like very much. And Itin's
fluid style and dynamic pedal work brought out all the fire
and spirit of that composer. Best played, certainly the most
interesting musically, was Scriabin's Sonata No. 4, especially
the 2nd movement (Prestissimo volando), building to a big,
Beethovenian finish.
The Rachmaninov work was probably the most challenging for
the pianist, not because of the kind of banging called for
in the Scriabin pieces, but because of the extremes of dynamics
and tempi. I also heard some syncopation that added to the
variety and complexity of the work, and Itin was easily up
to the task!
The Tchaikovsky Suite was a more controlled version of the
outpouring of notes and emotions we heard in the Scriabin
and Rachmaninov works. There is even room for playfulness
(La Fee-Argent, Le Chat Botte et la Chatte Blanche, Le Canari
qui chante, and Chaperon Rouge et le Loup), in stark contrast
to the long Introduction and achingly beautiful slow movements
(Andante and Adagio). There was, in other words, something
for every taste here! And, again, Itin showed versatility
in handling the various mood swings of the music.
All in all, a very full, enjoyable evening of music on a
warm, still summer night - the air in Chapin Hall was stifling,
no fans or AC in evidence - and enough variety and interest
in the music to delight one local singer of some renown, who
commented: "I thought I would be bored". Such was not the
case, given the virtuosity of the performer, the interest
of the program, and the enthusiasm of the audience. Three
encores! And Itin would probably have played more!
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