Oh, you were there LisztAddict? I wish I'd known, I could have met up with you!
I felt that the decision to use a microphone on the piano was very poor. It ruined the Mozart for me and it also ruined a lot of the Chopin. It picked up a lot of the percussive sounds from the piano. The only time where I felt the sound was good was when he played quietly.
The second half was microphone-less, thank God. I felt he really commanded the Mussorgsky, unlike the Mozart which I feel really does not suit his style. The touch he applied to the Mozart was almost the same as the touch he applied to Chopin. I disagreed a lot with that.
The acoustics weren't the best, but do keep in mind, LisztAddict, that while he was performing, a tornado went overhead, and that is why the rain - and I think at some point it was hail, as well as lots of wind - was louder than the piano. At that point he was in one of the minor variations of the Pictures theme, so instead of detracting from the performance I thought it added to it. I wanted him to play the Raindrop prelude as an encore but it seemed he didn't have one prepared.
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Pianist and teacher with a 5'8" Baldwin R and Clavi CLP-230 at home.
New website up:
http://www.studioplumpiano.com. Also on Twitter @QQitsMina