Yefim Bronfman plays Chopin Etudes
Mar 13th, 2011 by Ashley
20110313 @ Davies Symphony Hall, SF
A busy, with piles of todos, yet very pleasant Sunday.
(Even though it WAS spring forward day.)
Had dim sum with Michael (my 1st and 2nd grade classmate) and Jessica (his sister), both of whom I haven’t seen for about 20 years, as well as Bob, whom was Jessica & Alice’s elementary school classmate. It was like meeting new friends whose basic family details are already imprinted in your memory.
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When I took off from Milpitas library, it was pushing 3:30. Yet as I pulled over by Davies Symphony Hall, it was not even 4:10. I don’t quite know how I did it. (It was supposed to be a 1-hour drive.) Rain drizzled on and off; I hid myself under my tiny umbrella, strolling on Hayes, admiring whimsical shops along the street. I settled down at La Boulange as planned, indulging myself with macaroons (caramel and passion fruit + mango) and a bowl of large latte by the window. A sip of coffee, a nibble of macaroon, a few lines of reading, a wandering glance at passersby or a longing study of the subtle distinction between color and light and dark of garbage can, trees and rain drops; repeat from start.
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7pm, Yefim Bronfman promptly emerged on stage and he did not hesitate to begin. Yefim started the evening with Haydn’s Piano Sonata in C major, Hob.XVI/50, which I do not particularly appreciate. The Allegro was pleasant yet soulless, and therefore quite a drag. (It’s just not my cup of tea. Not that Yefim played it badly.) The second piece on the program was Salonen’s Humoreske, which was composed on commission from Carnegie Hall this year. However, Mr. Salonen with his good humor did not finish the piece in time; therefore, Yefim played Schumann’s Humoreske in B flat major, Op. 20 instead. I don’t think I’ve ever heard this one before. Humoreske is never my thing. However, this piece is in fact quite engaging.
Applause. Lights up. Intermission.
I delightedly noticed that perhaps half of the audience have yet to reach retirement age.
Lights blinked. People started to settle in but unfortunately not as fast as Yefim did. He simply couldn’t wait to attack the piano! Notes flowed freshly and crisply like streams and I was instantly reminded how Chopin’s Etudes Op. 10 is one of my favorite works by him, probably only second to the magnificent Polonaise Op 53 in A-Flat. No. 2 was beautiful and captive. Yefim absolutely transformed sophisticated and tender emotions into sound for us to intake. No. 8 was played differently then what I was used to; however it was so wonderfully interpreted. No. 12 was a blast; it was rock concert equivalent; not only was it passionate and exhilarating, it was also deeply affecting. I could almost feel my boiling blood. It was truly a blessed experience.
Two encores: Schumann’s “Arabeske,” and Liszt’s Paganini Etude No. 2.