... the score says "brillante"

I mean technique wise..

Like you're holding a sparkler, except that your fingers are the sparkly bits.

yeah.. More explicitly, please?

At the risk of inviting another N/K tournament, does it imply a faster keystroke? Also, can you play "brillante" at slow tempo?

N/K Tournament:

I think it implies a faster key release - a non-legato approach. I can't recall seeing brillante applied to slow notes, though.

I agree with Kreisler that it may lie more in the key release.

Articulate?

With "enthusiasm" maybe?

... with rhinestones?

With everything you've got !!

With a somewhat precise, exacting finger action that gives the tone a very "impressive" sound.

BruceD, how cheap! rhinestones!!!! I am in Manhattan for gosh's sake!

More seriously, may be Angelina is onto something when she said "articulate". I will try it.
I am slaving over some etude which is basically meandering scalar passages from sea to shining sea, that have to be played "brillante". When my teacher plays it, I hear the "sparkling cascades" but he has not been able to articulate to me exactly how I can make it happen. I am a bit too analytical perhaps.
It is certainly legato though and I can get the effect to some extent when I play it very fast, but.. I am not up to playing the whole thing at a very fast tempo, at least not in the foreseeable week.. And he won't hear it sans "rhinestones"..

Crisp articulation is the key to achieving that, alongside careful use of the damper pedal.

Yes, 'crisp' is a good word, too. What I would reccomend is playing the passage(s) slow, stacatto, and see how it turs out when you speed it back up. Keep in mind your dynaimcs.

KBK should be coming online in several hours, though why I am still up is a mystery.

Playing 'brillante' at a slow tempo was more of a rhetorical question? I don't recall seeing that designation in any slow music. But correct me if I am wrong.

how about playing it while wearing a rhinestone jacket??

Or Michael Jackson's glove?

Dolmetsch Online says "with verve and vivacity"...

Make the rhinestones into diamonds and you'll have it! Jim