Past Performances
The brilliant and popular Spanish pianist, Maria Linares, returned to play in St Alkmunds Church on Tuesday 15th October 2024 at 1pm. This was her fourth recital in Shrewsbury, having played two recitals to help raise humanitarian funds for Ukraine. There were some 120 fans in the audience, attesting to her popularity from previous performances. She has a lovely personality that shines through and captures the listener's heart. She arrived in 2022 as a promising young student from the Birmingham Conservatoire, but we have been able to see her developing into a fully-fledged artist, and her latest repertoire seemed to suit her creative strengths.
Maria started with Bach's French Suite No.5, one of his most romantic compositions written in 1722 when he had fallen in love with, and married, his second wife Anna Magdalena, by whom he would have 13 children. Anna Magdalena was a celebrated soprano and a great support to Johann's career. Maria has a beautiful touch on the piano, her playing full of the joie de vivre and her mischievous sense of humour.
Victor Maslov gave his first recital in Shropshire on 25th June 2024 in St Alkmunds Church, Shrewsbury. He appeared courtesy of the Keyboard Charitable Trust (KCT), a world-wide charity that supports the most promising international pianists early in their careers. Previous beneficiaries of the KCT include Evgeny Kissin, Anna Fedorova, Mariam Batsashvili and Paul Lewis, to name but a few. The KCT have recognised the support given by Shrewsbury audiences to young international pianists and have offered to sponsor two recitals a year in Shrewsbury from some of their most gifted artists.
Victor is a 25-year-old Russian pianist who has been praised as “one of those people who is close to all-round mastery of his repertoire” by the New York Concert Review, following his recital at Carnegie Hall, New York. Victor has appeared as a soloist at such renowned venues and festivals as the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Cadogan Hall, Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire, Smetana Hall and Rudolfinum.
Elisabeth Brauss returned to Shrewsbury to play in the Maidment Auditorium at Shrewsbury School on Sunday May 5th 2024 for an afternoon recital for the Shropshire Music Trust. What a superb piano recital from the German Maestro, with the audience spellbound from beginning to end. Starting with Beethoven's Piano Sonata "The Hunt" with the final movement played faster than I have ever heard, obeying Beethoven's instruction of Presto con Fuoco it was indeed played rapidly with passion and fire. Next a selection of pieces by Prokofiev, played with such enthusiasm and superb technique that must have made Prokofiev smile in the heavens.
After the interval, Elisabeth explained to the audience her love of Schumann's Carnaval, the characters involved and the complexity of Robert's personality. Elisabeth's account was like hearing the piece for the first time, always a sign of great musical integrity and original interpretation.
Since her last recital in Shrewsbury in 2021, Elisabeth has gained strength, both in her inner conviction and the depth of her dynamics. Her pianissimo is as light as a feather but her technique in faster and louder passages is immaculate. She has become a global star, and quite rightly so. She told the Shrewsbury audience that she was inspired by their quiet and intense concentration. Quiet they may have been, but not at the end of this brilliant world-class performance when a standing ovation greeted this modest musician. As an encore, Elisabeth played Chopin's Minute Waltz, underlining the breadth of her repertoire and the beauty that springs from her magical fingers.
Renata Konyicska played her first recital in Shropshire on Tuesday 30th April at 1pm in a packed St Alkmunds Church. She started with Schubert's Impromptu No.4 Op.90, played with subtle dynamics and a lush tone. Many of us wished we could hear Renata play the first three Impromptus too. She then gave us a beautiful and soulful rendering of Liszt's rarely played Valse-Impromptu S. 213, finding Liszt in a subdued and contemplative mood.
The main work of the recital was a magnificent performance of all the 24 Preludes by Chopin Op.28. To my mind, playing all the Preludes in one performance is the best way to appreciate the depth and emotional variety of some of Chopin's greatest compositions. He composed many of the Preludes in the Royal Palace of Valldemossa in Mallorca. The Palace had originally been built in the mountains to help the King's poorly son who suffered from asthma, unfortunately to no avail, as his son died soon after. Chopin had been told by his doctors that he would not survive another winter in Paris with his tuberculosis. He went with his partner George Sand to Mallorca hoping for warmth and sunshine but spent a rather miserable time there, as it rained continuously, and the piano was slow to arrive. The locals took a dim view of the unorthodox and unmarried couple. Nonetheless, the solitude and peaceful surroundings inspired Frederic and he found deep inspiration there.