15 July 2000
People
imagine all sorts of things when they hear the phrase a “Russian soul”. It
encompasses deep convincing pathos and pseudo-melancholic sweetness. Listening
to a Moscow pianist Yuri Rozum one could be sure that the latter was not there.
His solo recital of piano works by Tchaikovsky, Skriabin and Rachmaninov at the
castle Johannisberg was a lesson in good taste.
The pianist
started his recital at the Rheingau Music Festival with characteristic pieces
from Tchaikovsky’s early and middle periods and immediately impressed the
audience with his crystal clear pedalwork and counterpoint transparency in
Scherzo a la Russe Op.1 No.1. In the
three pieces from the “Nutcracker” ballet-suite Op.71, which were transcribed
for the piano by the composer himself, the pianist brought this ballet music
back into the right light: atmosphere, rather than aroma, magic instead of
sugar and honey.
The free
choice of Preludes from Alexander Skriabin’s Op.9, Op.11 and Op.16 was
considerate and deeply thought through and the pianist did not let the
intensity go until the brilliant Sonata No.4 by the genius master of
composition of Fin-de-Siecle. Together with stunning virtuosity the pianist
managed to convey audacious excitement and wilful charm of this Sonata.
At the end
of the programme Yuri Rozum counterpoised the sextet of Skriabin’s Preludes by
a similar group of piano works by Sergei Rachmaninov from Op.3, Op.23 and
Op.32. Similar to his interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s music, the effect is
achieved not through an effort, but through free expression, and Yuri Rozum
does this with brilliant technical mastery, as well as beautiful sound and
sensitive feel of each Prelude. One can say, that the repertoire played by Yuri
Rozum that evening is in the best hands.
Gerrit Priessnitz