Daniel played the second recital in the 2022 International Recital Series on Sunday 30th October in St Chads Church, on an afternoon bathed in autumn sunshine. He played two Beethoven Sonatas including the Appassionata with an incredibly difficult Schumann Toccata sandwiched between. The audience was spellbound throughout. He began by playing the rarely played Sonata No. 22, less dramatic than the Appassionata but equally original and perfectly formed. Daniel's performance of the Appassionata was full of passion, confidence and understanding of the turbulent period in Beethoven's life when it was composed. I don't believe we will ever hear a better performance of the work
Daniel is Hungarian but has lived and studied in the UK for the past 12 years, most recently at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He has already established an international career, having performed in Europe, The Far East and both North and South America. He has a very wide repertoire which stretches from Bach to Bartók and beyond. Daniel has already played seven times in the Wigmore Hall as well as appearing with orchestras in Symphony Hall, the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall. As with most of our top performers, he shows modesty, a good heart as well as a fierce work ethic and desire to do justice to the music he so passionately loves.
After the intermission, Daniel played Schubert's Drei Klavierstucke (Three Piano Pieces) D 946 which beautifully demonstrated his phenomenal technique and dense concentration as well as his ability to make the piano sing with divine melodies. As an encore, Daniel performed Schubert's Hungarian Melody, an apt ending with a nod to his homeland. Daniel found the audience inspiring with its complete silence, concentration and deep appreciation of the beauty of some of the finest piano music ever written. This is the beauty of live music, when performer and audience journey together through sublime works. Daniel thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Shrewsbury and, like all our young stars, would return at the drop of a hat.