Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Conductor: Okko Kamu
Pianist: Benjamin Grosvenor
Programme:
Jean Sibelius - Symphony No.4 in A minor, Op. 63
Robert Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Jean Sibelius - Symphony No.5 in E-flat major, Op. 82
I have never developed a liking for Sibelius' pieces, so in this entry I shall just comment on Schumann's Piano Concerto.
This Piano Concerto, compared to other piano concertos, can be considered to be simpler and less technique-demanding. Rather than being a 'volatile' piece that is full of flashy and powerful cadenzas that is so common for the classical era, it is a calm piece that rotates around a hymn-like melody.
Grosvenor, a young and budding British pianist (only 19 years old this year), played it quite well in terms of technique - the running scales were clear and crisp, and the jumping octaves were also powerful and yet neat. However, his age - and the consequential lack of experience in musical interpretation - stands out. Although the piece was executed quite perfectly in terms of technique, Grosvenor failed to bring out the inner emotions of the piano concerto. Similarly, for the third movement - Allegro Vivace - a movement full of energy and virtuosity - was played accurately with almost no mistakes, but the mood was not brought out. Grosvenor was simply playing the notes and not the piece itself.
Maybe I will listen to him again in three to five more years. By that time, his musical understanding should have improved.
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