Berlin 15-03-2010
The concert was on the 13th which in Anglo/American societies is sometimes considered bad luck.
However I had the very good luck to hear an outstanding pianist on this March the 13th – namely the young and upcoming Georgy Gromov who was born in 1980 in Moscow, Russia.
On his internet site, it says that …”he is making an international career as a diverse pianist with an exceptional insight, sincerity, and passion. His extensive repertoire demonstrates his amazing versatility and flexibility, and includes major works of different styles from baroque to contemporary music.”
His program at one of the weekly recitals at the ‘Piano Salon Christophori’ in Prenzlauer Berg was well thought out – Bach, Beethoven, Bartok and Schumann.
The concert was played on a Duysen piano built in Berlin in 1923 and completely restored at the ‘Piano Salon Christophori’ – which produced a superior warm and mellow tone compared to most modern pianos.
Like all older pianos it has a bit less dynamic but sounds both smooth and when needed powerfull – authentic and original for the Beethoven and Schumann and perfectly in place for both the ends of the “B” composers Bach + Bartok.
Beethoven is often played like Schubert or Schumann – which is bad enough – however even worse is when it is played like Mozart! Gromov had none of this!
Gromov plays Beethoven the way Beethoven should be played – strong, with passion but above all with the Beethoven tempi and spirit. His rendition of the “Storm” Piano Sonata [No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2, composed in 1802 -usually referred to as "The Tempest" - Der Sturm - in German] was exceptional.
The piece consists of three movements and at 25 minutes is rare amoung Beethovens Sonatas for its length - Largo – Allegro Adagio -Allegretto .
The Bartok was also played with passion - Beethoven was Bartok’s favorite composer – so perhaps this says something about Gromov – smart to put them together.
How would the Schumann sound – that wonderful dynamic force historically the bond between Beethoven/Schubert and Brahms – not an easy composer to play or interpret.
Schumann is often reffered to as a ‘composer’s composer’ – perhaps because he is so highly regarded by theml – but also because he never became as popular as many of his contemporaries and remains a bit of an iconoclast outside the mainstream.
Gromov seems to have saved his best for the last because Schumann’s ‘Faschingsschwank’ piece was for me the highlight of the evening. Schumann played as he should be played – romantic and a bit pedantic but with great warmth and feeling.
This was for me the best concert of the last years the ‘Piano Salon Christophori’ and I hope he comes back to play again soon.
[reviewed by Wim van Coeveren]
Tags: Georgy Gromov
