One doesn’t really expect Beethoven’s ‘Appassionata’ Sonata to lead off a recital program, yet there it was, brimming with heat to start the afternoon. László Váradi, the first pianist in this year’s Young Pianist Series recitals, clearly had a goal in mind, one that started with the fire of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 23 in F minor, then evolved through the rest of the afternoon making bold statements, lyrical concessions, and comparisons by way of Franz Liszt. The key here was emotional contrast for the genuine sake of enlightenment. While one may have hoped for more of that emotional contrast, Váradi seemed comfortable with a tonal twilight sort of storytelling—an eminently valid approach.
Following the Beethoven, Váradi chose two Liszt transcriptions of Franz Schubert lieder, the Serenade “Leise flehen meine Lieder” and “Der Müller und der Bach” (“Wo ein treues Herze”). Both of these selections highlighted Liszt’s gift for capturing Schubert’s vocal drama with the piano, as well as the pianist’s gift for understanding Liszt’s take on that vocal emotion and how to bring it to life.
The second half of the program journeyed into truly challenging material, two selections from Liszt’s Années de Pelerinage: Vallée d’Obermann from Année 1 and the “Dante Sonata” from Année 2.
In Vallée d’Obermann, Váradi captured the ennui and emotional weariness, building on his signature darkness. Thankfully, we did not have to abandon all hope in Aprés une lecture de Dante, as the pianist captured an exquisite dynamic range and surprising variety that carried us from the Gates of Hell to paradise.
I almost hesitate to mention it, but in the total acoustic quietness of the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, the Steinway grand’s pedal mechanics seemed troublesome, resulting in some quite bizarre and distracting overtones. Whether this was the pianist or the instrument, I will leave to others.
The second of the three Young Pianist Series recitals for 2019 is on Sunday, February 17, featuring the 17-year old pianist Ray Ushikubo. Tickets and Information
