SF Performances presents
Jan Lisiecki
2013-12-03
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall
50 Oak St, San Francisco, CA
7:30 PM, Tuesday, December 3, 2013

[7:34 PM lights down, announcements by Ruth Felt]

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): Preludes Nos. 1-4 (1929)

1. [7:36 PM] La Colombe (the Dove)
2. [7:38 PM] Chan d'extase dans une paysage triste (Song of Ecstasy in a Sad Landscape)
3. [7:44 PM] Le nombre leger (The Light Number)
4. [7:46 PM] Instants defunts (Dead Instants)
   [work ends 7:50 PM; greetings from JL and introduction of the next work]

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Keyboard Partita No.1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825 (ca. 1730)

1. [7:52 PM] Praeludium
2. [7:54 PM] Allemande
3. [7:56 PM] Corrente
4. [7:59 PM] Sarabande
5. [8:0x PM] Menuet I
6. [8:05 PM] Menuet II
7. [8:07 PM] Gigue
   [work ends 8:09 PM]

Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)

1. [8:10 PM] Minuet in G Major, Op.14, No.1 (1887)
2. [8:13 PM] Nocturne in B-flat Major, Op.16, No.4 (ca. 1891)
   [work ends 8:17 PM]

Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959): Trois Danses Tchèques, H.154 (1926);

1. [8:19 PM] Okrocák: Tempo di Polka
2. [8:21 PM] Dupák: Allegro con brio
3. [8:23 PM] Polka: Rubato: Tempo di Polka
   [set ends 8:26 PM]

[8:42 PM lights down, comments from JL]

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Études, Op.10 (1833)

1. [8:44 PM] Étude No. 1 in C Major, “Waterfall”
2. [8:46 PM] Étude No. 2 in A minor, “Chromatic”
3. [8:48 PM] Étude No. 3 in E Major, “Tristesse”
4. [8:52 PM] Étude No. 4 in C-sharp minor, “Torrent”
5. [8:54 PM] Étude No. 5 in G-flat Major, “Black Key”
6. [8:56 PM] Étude No. 6 in E-flat minor
7. [8:59 PM] Étude No. 7 in C Major, “Toccata”
8. [9:01 PM] Étude No. 8 in F Major, “Sunshine”
9. [9:03 PM] Étude No. 9 in F minor
10. [9:05 PM] Étude No. 10 in A-flat Major
11. [9:08 PM] Étude No. 11 in E-flat Major, “Arpeggio”
12. [9:10 PM] Étude No. 12 in C minor, “Revolutionary”
    [set ends 9:13 PM]
     
    Encore
13. [9:14 PM] Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Étude No. 12 in C minor, Op. 25 (1837), “Ocean”
    [show ends 9:17 PM]

• Jan Lisiecki: piano.

For his first engagement in San Francisco, I thought Jan Lisiecki made a strongly positive impression. To begin, he exhibited a marvelously charming demeanor, engaging the crowd via witty introductions to most of the pieces. Secondly, as he was undoubtedly aware, the program consisted of terrifically difficult pieces. Stephen Smoliar seemed to think (xref review) that Lisiecki was a bit one-dimensional, but to my ear, his performance was utterly engaging. I look forward to seeing hikm again as he matures!

Stephen Smoliar has posted both a promo article and a typically sour review.

Back to the calendar!