Garrick Ohlsson at Miner Auditorium, April 6, 2015

SF Perofrmances presents Garrick Ohlsson celebrating the works of Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (1872-1915)
2015-04-06
Miner Auditorium
SFJAZZ Center, 205 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
7:30 PM, Monday, April 6, 2015

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Scriabin: Sonatas 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10

[7:34 PM lights down, Garrick enters]

Prélude in D-flat Major, Op. 11, No. 15 (1896)

1. [7:34 PM] Lento
   [work ends 7:38 PM]

Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6 (1892)

1. [7:38 PM] Allegro con fuoco
2. [7:46 PM] (untitled ~ adagio)
3. [7:52 PM] Presto
4. [7:55 PM] Funèbre
   [work ends 8:02 PM]

Prélude in D-flat Major, Op. 59, No. 2 (1910)

1. [8:03 PM] Sauvage, Belliqueux (savage/wild, belligerent)
   [work ends 8:05 PM]

Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 66 (1913)

1. [8:05 PM] Lento - Allegro agitato
   [work ends 8:20 PM]

Piano Sonata No. 9, Op. 68 (1913), Messe noire (Black Mass)

1. [8:22 PM] Moderato quasi andante – Molto meno vivo – Allegro molto – Alla marcia – Allegro – Presto – Tempo primo
   [set ends 8:31 PM]

[8:50 PM lights down, Garrick returns]

Piano Sonata No. 3 in F-sharp minor, Op. 23 (1898)

1. [8:51 PM] Drammàtico
2. [8:55 PM] Allegretto
3. [9:00 PM] Andante
4. [9:05 PM] Presto con fuoco
   [work ends 9:11 PM]

Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70 (1913), Insect Sonata

1. [9:12 PM] Moderato; Allegro
   [set ends 9:25 PM; pause for a couple ovations and “curtain calls”]

First Encore

Poème in F-sharp Major, Op. 32, No. 1 (1903)

1. [9:27 PM] Andante cantabile
   [work ends 9:30 PM; pause for additional ovations]

Second Encore

Étude in C-sharp minor, Op. 42, No. 5 (1903)

1. [9:31 PM] Affanato
   [show ends 9:34 PM]

• Garrick Ohlsson: piano.

Originally scheduled for Pi Day, this show was postponed a few weeks in order to accommodate Ohlsson's emergency dental surgery (though no comment was made about this at tonight's show). Sitting at stage right behind the piano bench made for a somewhat obstructed view –I could only see the bottom octave on the left and the top third or so on the right – but it also made for marvelous listening, as we were raised up a step or two off the floor.

Stephen Smoliar posted a review for the Examiner; I take it from his lack of complaint that he enjoyed the show, though he didn't seem to comment much on that issue. I dunno, it seems to me that the primary reason to go to a recital is to hear music that you are inclined to like. Commenting whether that need was met or not seems entirely natural, no?

In my case, I was thoroughly delighted, and I wish I'd been able to hear the first recital back in December. I'll be on the lookout for future shows by Olsson (as I have, since hearing him play at a Busoni lecture/recital), as well as shows by other performers where Scriabin's works have been programmed.

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