Sergei Babayan demonstrated his piano mastery at the Colón. A high quality magical night. Print photos.
Presenting a very complex repertoire with confidence and elegance is a sign of mastery. This is what Armenian-American Sergei Babayan has largely achieved, in a program that shows inspiring works for the most experienced pianist.
The night started with chacona by Bach, whose 64 variations are as complex as they are beautiful. Various composers were commissioned to transcribe this work, but Babayan chose that of Ferruccio Busoni. The pianist obtained a transcendental reading of the Chaconneexploiting all the possibilities of the piano that Busoni explores in his writing, without neglecting the magnificence of musical architecture Bachiana.
The sharpness with which he managed to project every variation, to which added a layer of understated drama with time and dynamics variations.
Sergei Babayan, applauded at the Teatro Colón. Photographic print
It seemed impossible that, after such a concert beginning, the pianist still had too much to add about his technical and interpretative skills. Until it was time for Rachmaninov with the Étude-Tableaux (No. 5) and the Six musical moments (No. 2 and No. 6).
The difficulty of these scores is considerable, even within the repertoire of the post-romantic Russian composer. Even with this consideration in between, Babayan achieved a performance full of vigor and intensity in which his fingers seemed tireless.
The golden age of romanticism
The pianist also visited in the first part of the concert lieder by Schubert, in Liszt’s transcription, to introduce in the evening the pure spirit of the romantic piano, which brought to splendor in the latter part of the night.
This started with Ballad No. 2 in B minor (F. Liszt), in which Babayan noted his ability to carry on moments of graceful lyricism. To complete the panorama of the typical works of the golden period of Romanticism, the program ended with the famous Kreisleriana by R. Schumann.
The interpreter has examined the eight pieces that compose it with a frank knowledge of their contrasts, with which he has obtained an overwhelming effect.
Babayan articulated the two parts of his concert very well. Photographic print.
In view of a theater full of young peoplethe result of the Colón’s proposal to sell tickets at affordable prices to children under 35, the pianist thanked the applause and offered himself as BIS the air of Goldberg variations.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the Argerich Festival are the concerts that she acts with her guestsbut this was not considered when Babayan offered a night in which, with great competencecelebrated the greatness of his instrument.
File
Qualification: Excellent
Recital by Sergei Babayan Teatro Colón, Argerich Festival Date: August 14th, at 8.30pm
Program, first part: Ciaccona from the Partita for solo violin no. 2 by JS Bach / F. Busoni, transcriptions of Liszt’s Schubert lieders, works by Sergei Rachmaninoff (from Étude-Tableaux and Six moments musicaux).
Program, second part: Ballad n. 2 by F. Liszt and Kreisleriana by R. Schumann.
Virginia Chacon Dorr
Source: Clarin
