olga kern

[nervous_wreck]

olga kern finally came back to fort worth. she played rachmoninoffs first concerto, which was absolutely wonderful, she completely captured my heart. she came back and did an encore... i can't remember hte song now (wasn't a famous one) and then she came back and did another encore, rachmoninoff's prelude in c# minor. i found that when she played this song it was only on the "okay" side of things. i feel like she missed alot of key points of the song... i can't understand it though, because she played the other songs so beautifully. has anyone else had this experience with her? (seeing her play of course) does she ware out easily? my teacher specifically asked me that "if she plays the c# minor prelude, tell me what you think of it" and i'm sure she'll expect me to be amazed... but i wasn't, what should i say?!

[iumonito]

The truth, of course.  I am a big fan of Olga Kern and I do not find she wears out ever.  It is possible the c# minor prelude did not please you for a million reasons, one of which is that she may not have played it the best she ever has (I find over time my impressions about certain recordings change, obviously the performances don't so it must be something related to perception; she being the exceptional artist she is, I would tend to think more of the latter.  Not a sin, there is no reason why everyone should like everything).

Also, your teacher might very well asked you the question knowing you wouldn't like it.  Possible?

[nervous_wreck]

i think she just had a bad time around... you could see it all over her that she was disapointed. and i'm pretty sure my teacher expects me to like her.

[lynbron]

Ms Kern played a solo recital here in Carmel, California, on Saturday, March 25, and the Prelude in C# Minor was one of her four encores. Unlike her other encores, the C# Minor Prelude was not that special -- except for the the ending which was phenomenal. See concert review at https://www.BronsonPianoStudio.com/reviews.htm. Kern practiced at our home for three hours on Friday, March 25, and it was interesting that she didn't touch a note of any of her solo repertoire to be played the following evening. All she worked on for three hours was the Rachmaninoff 1st Concerto which she was playing in Ft. Worth a few days later. My guess is that the Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# Minor has been overplayed in her repertoire and that it has lost its magic for her.

Lyn Bronson

[pianiststrongbad]

I was at the Carmel performance. In the performance the Prelude in C# was listed on the program, not an encore.  I think Olga did a wonderful job on all of the pieces she played contrary to lynbron's review. 

[moose_opus_28]

I heard her play Chopin 1.  It was great, and then she did Moszkowski's "Sparks" etude as an encore and it was just fast and sloppy.  People loved it, but I know that piece, and it was crappy.

She should practice her encores more, perhaps.