The phenomenal Evgeny Kissin played in the Orchestra Hall this afternoon: Prokofiev and Chopin. The ancor of the first half was Prokofiev's Sonata No. 8. Brooding and technically superb, it was one of the best interpretations I've heard in years. The second half was all Chopin and a bit uneven. When in smaller pieces Kissin tries to be "philosophical," it usually doesn't work too well: the slight, delicate Mazurkas become too heavy, lose their momentum. But when he "just" plays, the results are amazing. Eight Etudes (five from Op. 10 and three from Op. 25) were breathtaking. I think the one in a minor, Op. 10, No. 2 was absolutely perfect. The encores (Chopin's Nocturne and two Prokofiev pieces) were superb. The public went wild.
The phenomenal Evgeny Kissin played in the Orchestra Hall this afternoon: Prokofiev and Chopin. The ancor of the first half was Prokofiev's Sonata No. 8. Brooding and technically superb, it was one of the best interpretations I've heard in years. The second half was all Chopin and a bit uneven. When in smaller pieces Kissin tries to be "philosophical," it usually doesn't work too well: the slight, delicate Mazurkas become too heavy, lose their momentum. But when he "just" plays, the results are amazing. Eight Etudes (five from Op. 10 and three from Op. 25) were breathtaking. I think the one in a minor, Op. 10, No. 2 was absolutely perfect. The encores (Chopin's Nocturne and two Prokofiev pieces) were superb. The public went wild.
And here's John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune. He liked everything: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0224-kissin-ovnfeb...
Wow! That's a great review! The performance must have been quite stunning for the audience to plead for more of an encore.