Listeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of Vikingur Olafsson’s fast hand-crossing, which was made far more perilous on a modern piano.
Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olafsson’s first Australian tour culminated in a barnstorming account ofOlafsson left the at-capacity audience in awe of his technical brilliance and his stamina throughout the work’s demanding 75-minute arc.Establishing a well-paced serenity through the initial aria upon which the work is based, Olafsson then embarked on the journey of 30 variations with a clear eye as to the music’s structure.
Often a variation’s harmonic backbone was brought to the fore, or listeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of fast hand-crossing, made far more perilous on a modern piano that lacks the second keyboard of the double-manual harpsichord, for which the score was originally conceived. Following in the tradition of the famous Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, Olafsson was not afraid to use all the dynamic resources of a modern instrument, bringing power and majesty to some variations and a hushed intensity to others, most notably the final minor-mode variation and the eventual return to the aria.In an act of thoughtful and generous programming, Olafsson’s high-octane performance was preceded by a selection of five-part English viol music performed by Consortium ensemble.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Icelandic pianist’s technical brilliance on show – even if on the wrong instrumentListeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of Vikingur Olafsson’s fast hand-crossing, which was made far more perilous on a modern piano.
Read more »
Icelandic pianist’s technical brilliance on show – even if on the wrong instrumentListeners were dazzled with the dizzying accuracy of Vikingur Olafsson’s fast hand-crossing, which was made far more perilous on a modern piano.
Read more »
Lava shoots into sky as Icelandic volcano eruptsA volcano in Iceland has erupted for the fourth time in three months, sending orange jets of lava into the night sky.
Read more »
ABC’s James Valentine announces cancer diagnosis, will be off-airThe Afternoons presenter shared his diagnosis with listeners on Thursday.
Read more »
ABC’s James Valentine announces cancer diagnosis, will be off-airThe Afternoons presenter shared his diagnosis with listeners on Thursday.
Read more »
ABC’s James Valentine announces cancer diagnosis, will be off-airThe Afternoons presenter shared his diagnosis with listeners on Thursday.
Read more »