A nearly full house (100 or so) shared the dance Sunday afternoon in the Six Continents Lounge at the InterContinental Hotel on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic. It’s gorgeous room for a recital such as this, with lively acoustics, but an atmosphere redolent of a salon or living room in a stately home.
Mr. Soukhovetski, a native of Russia, was the third prize winner in the 2003 Cleveland International Piano Competition, as well as having won or reached the finals in several other competitions since 2002, when he was all of twenty-one! He is currently attending The Juilliard School in New York. He provided charming spoken program notes for his performance, which began with Weber’s Invitation to the Dance.
A slightly squeaky pedal on the Kawai piano didn’t seem to affect the artist in any way, as he lavished attentive care to the showy piece. In spite of the liveliness of the room, Mr. Soukhovetski’s crisp articulation kept the music from becoming muddy in spite of the rapidity of the notes. It was not an overly emotional performance, which allowed the contrasting dynamics to provide contrast. The very knowledgeable audience waited for the final little phrase to be completed before bursting into vigorous applause, which was the standard for the afternoon.
Number five of the six Goyescas—derived from piano pieces after paintings by Goya—by Granados the El Amor y La Muerte presented the young pianist with the opportunity for a more emotional display, being the tale of aristocratic young lovers who are separated by the death of the young man. After the passion was stillness.
Three Mazurkas from Chopin’s Opus 59 were given a wonderfully expressive performance. According to the composer, these were not meant for dancing. However, they are so invitingly rhythmic, it’s difficult to sit still during them. Heads nodded and feet tapped quietly during the fluid and lyrical presentation.
For his last solo work, Mr. Soukhovetski turned to the Mephisto Waltz of Lizst. All of the depicted characters were so clearly delineated, one had no difficulty in deciphering just who was who. The pianist plays with grace and strength and intensity, but above all—beauty.
After a brief intermission, the pianist was joined by Liana Gourdjia, also from Russia and now a student at CIM. She has also been successful in competitions throughout the world. They performed the Violin Sonata in E minor by Mozart seriously, but with a light touch and in a way that suggested a spirited conversation between two very good friends. Ms. Gourdjia plays with a lovely long line and absolutely true intonation, even in the double-stopped octaves. Mr. Soukhovetski was a very able collaborator.
The final scheduled work was Ravel’s Violin Sonata in G Major, written after the French composer had visited blues clubs in Harlem in the 1920s. The influence of this American music is very clear in this work, which contains bent notes and jazzy syncopation. The pizzicato opening of the second movement was insouciant and independent, although gorgeously performed. The finale is marked ‘perpetuum mobile’ and after a deliberately languid beginning, it took off, living up to its name! The young performers received cheers and long, loud applause in acknowledgement of their efforts. In response, they offered a brief encore by deFalla. Ms. Gourdjia introduced the piece by saying ‘it will make you feel warm’. And on the chilly, snowy afternoon in Cleveland, it did indeed!
The recital was preceded by the Sunday Brunch at the InterContinental Hotel, which was sumptuous and delicious and gorgeously presented. Breakfast items as well as hot and cold entrees were provided, including desserts. (The cognac-pumpkin cheesecake will live in memory, believe me!) To be informed of future such events--which create an opportunity for young musicians to play, be heard, and get paid in a for-profit venue--send an e-mail to fiberartATsbcglobal.net.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz ArtsWriteratAdelphia.net (:divend:)