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The World of Arts :
Dramatically different, Mussorgsky’s Resurrection
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A blend of boldness, reasoning and
inspiration is provided by Andsnes, the virtuoso Norwegian pianist who
with his filigree delicacy of stroking the keys is a tumultuous display
of his wizardry. Some of the most sublime music written by Schumann is
also cleverly played by Andsnes. His prodigious techniques with a
powerful intellect makes him a formidable pianist
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Gwen HERAT
Incredible things happen at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s
Southbank Centre where music lovers are given a preview to a classical
performance. I was amazed when a piano series billed for December 2009
was stirring. This is not a normal performance, but something very
unique and unparalleled in the history of classical music. It is not the
first time though, that music and visuals have been mixed gloriously to
enhance each other’s finer points. What is unique here is that three of
the world’s most dynamic artists collaborate in an unmissable evening of
music and video.
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Norwegian pianist, Leif Ove Andsnes |
Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and young South African artist
Robin Rhodes redefine the piano recital, bringing the aesthetics of a
contemporary art gallery to the concert Hall. Together, they create a
new version of Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’. Originally
written to accompany paintings by Viktor Hartmann, this new version has
been created with images for the 21st century performances, still new to
London. Mussorgsky’s scores will be followed by new work of Thomas
Larcher, written to accompany visuals along with a performance of
Schumann’s ‘Kinderszenen’.
Virtuoso delicacy
A blend of boldness, reasoning and inspiration is provided by Andsnes,
the virtuoso Norwegian pianist who with his filigree delicacy of
stroking the keys is a tumultuous display of his wizardry. Some of the
most sublime music written by Schumann is also cleverly played by
Andsnes. His prodigious techniques with a powerful intellect makes him a
formidable pianist.
It is really a rare opportunity to hear this dazzling artist play the
Masters. Andsnes is a fine interpreter of Mussorgsky and along with
Robin Rhode’s visuals descending on the audience, he will create a
moment that can be only described as heavenly.
Unparalleled legacy
Undoubtedly, the toast of the International Piano Series will be Leif
Ove Andsnes performing Mussorgysky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ with
stage decor and visual accompaniment of the vibrant young South African
artist, Robin Rhode.
Together they have resurrected Mussorgsky’s music to the same
pedestals of the better known Masters.
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839-1881) left behind a musical legacy,
most of whom unfinished when he was barely 42 years old. One among the
five known as ‘The Mighty Handful’ and the others being Balakirev,
Borodin, Cui and Rimsky-Korsakov. Borodin was not happy at the way
Mussorgsky composed his scores most of whom were left unfinished because
of lack of dedication. He lacked the powers of concentration perhaps
because of his heavy drinking. He was also subject to nervous illnesses
and never settled down to a job or home. He left civil service in 1867
and made a living as a music teacher and accompanist but decided to
return to his ministry post. He had a nervous breakdown in 1880 after
which he lived his friends who tended to him.
Mussorgsky composed many scores after abandoning several operas. Two
of his brilliant works in classical repertoire are ‘The Night on the
Bare Mountain’ and ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ that the Norwegian
pianist is playing to classical visions mixed to create a unique
combination.
Early romanticism
These two scores are considered very emotional with ‘Pictures at an
Exhibition’ as one of the greatest of all Russian operas.
He rejected the lyrical quality in romanticism in his early
compositions that irked many of his contemporaries who scoffed at his
idealism of regarding pure beauty and technical fluency with contempt.
He said openly: ‘I want to speak to man in a language of truth’. These
very Russian sentiments offered an opportunity for his critics to drag
him over the cinders.
But nothing stopped him, not even the attempts of his loyal friend,
Rimsky-Korsakov to put him on right track.
He did not appeal to the Western audiences until his untimely death
when they came to appreciate his high-profile operas, ‘Boris Godunov’
and ‘Khovanshchina’. And the world was taken by surprise and overwhelmed
with Mussorgsky’s ‘operatic scena’ without words and made familiar to
millions by Walt Disney in ‘Fantasia’, the piano suite, ‘Pictures at an
Exhibition’. This suite has the distinction of being orchestrated five
times by other composers. So much for Modest Mussorgsky.
Childhood composer
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was essentially a composer of childhood
because he created a children’s imaginative world and also because they
learn their first music in his marvellous piano album (this was my
experience too in my own childhood).
Even in his youth he displayed a colourful temperament and leanings
to Romanticism, the influence of his father who was a prolific
translator of Romantic literature. Schumann married the icon pianist,
Clara Wieck and together they made music history, the ardour of which
still prevails among classical music lovers. Tonight the Norwegian
pianist is paying tribute to Schumann with his classic, ‘Kinderszenen’,
in practice for December orchestration. |
