Demidenko in SF

[minor9th]

Did anyone else attend Nokolai Demidenko's SF recital? Wow. Here's what he played:

Bach-Liszt Fantasy and Fugue in G minor BWV 542
J.S. Bach Italian Concerto in F major BWV 971
Liszt Variations on a Theme from Bach's Cantata "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen"
Schumann Sonata in F-sharp minor, op. 11

Three encores: two Scarlatti Sonatas (don't know the K number) and Melodie from Orfeo and Euridice by Gluck.

It was just staggering! He had all three P's in abundance: power, precision, poetry, not to mention incredible depth and intelligence. Don't miss him if he comes to your area.

[ramseytheii]

Did anyone else attend Nokolai Demidenko's SF recital? Wow. Here's what he played:

Bach-Liszt Fantasy and Fugue in G minor BWV 542
J.S. Bach Italian Concerto in F major BWV 971
Liszt Variations on a Theme from Bach's Cantata "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen"
Schumann Sonata in F-sharp minor, op. 11

Three encores: two Scarlatti Sonata's (don't know the K number) and Melodie from Orfeo and Euridice by Gluck.

It was just staggering! He had all three P's in abundance: power, precision, poetry, not to mention incredible depth and intelligence. Don't miss him if he comes to your area.

I saw a similar program in NY!  Except instead of the Schumann he played the Schubert a-major (smaller).  I absolutely loved it except the Schubert which I didn't get.  But the Italian Concerto sounded like I never heard it, esp. the second movement where kept it dolcissimo and sotto voce all the way through to the very last bar, when the sound came alive like a full orchestra.  It was amazing!  And the Liszt pieces were brillianlty done, even the selection: one was a strict transcription, and one a fantasy.  I was very impressed and highly recommend people to listen to this artist.

Walter Ramsey

[mikey6]

One of my friends nick named him 'Mr personality' coz his on stage presence displays all the charm and charisma of well...there isn't any
I heard him play Clementi which was stunning, a selection of Chopin and Liszt with 2 freakish Scarlatti encores.

[minor9th]

True, he never smiled, which isn't that big of a deal. I did appreciate that he stayed on stage between pieces--I hate the ritual of leaving/returning/leaving/returning. The second Scarlatti had some nasty repeated notes buried inside some chords--not K.141, for sure.

[tompilk]

i saw the same program with schubert instead of schumann. my parents thought he was strange not to smile too. And wiping his nose on his sleeve during a left hand run was pretty undignified too. But his playing was astonishing. His liszt was fantastic. His schubert got me liking schubert, and his Gluck-Sgambati almost made me cry. It now seems a popular encore piece.
Tom