Texans were treated to 4 days of piano recitals and master classes . I managed to catch the 3 major recitals. Abbey Simon was featured on Friday night. We were treated to a program of Czerny, Beethoven, Franck and Chopin. Though very musically played, the dynamics were compromised. I later was to find that he had injured a shoulder and was in great pain. At 85 or thereabouts, I give the guy credit for still pulling it off. The piano was a Yamaha and as most listers know I am not a big devotee of Yamaha, but this one sounded wonderful.

Jean Philippe Collard was featured on Saturday night in a program of Beethoven, Schumann and Ravel. His was very muscular extroverted playing. The Beethoven was likely the most enjoyable. Gaspard was a little brash for my taste and it didn't help that the stage hands had not locked down the piano and it continued to roll away from him as he played. NOT a comfortable prospect given the prodigious effort demanded by Gaspard certainly. The piano a Steinway was quite dull especially in the upper register and did not help him in any way. To my ear it sounded like a wonderful piano for chamber music though.

Sunday afternoon featured Ingrid Fliter and she played marvelously a program featuring Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, Piazzolla and Ginastera. If I had to single out any one piece that was really outstanding, I would pick the 4th ballade of Chopin. I can see why she was a recent winner of the Gilmore Prize.

At any rate, 3 recitals then a Concerto with Argerich on Sunday evening. It doesn't get much better for the Houston crowd.

She's huge talent isn't she? I heard her about 6 months ago, first half was Beethoven, Schubert, and second half was all Chopin. And yes, her 4th Ballade was quite special.

Fliter is a budding pianist that deeply impressed me with her debut DVD recorded live in Miami International Piano Festival. It also includes an interview with her. This DVD is not to be missed. I wanted to post a picture of the cover page of this DVD but my old link no longer works and I did a search and could not find where the new instruction thread is located...

I think she was 2nd at the Chopin International too.