Evgeny Kissin Recital 11//05/2025

[richardfinegold]

Program was Chopin in the first half, some Nocturnes and the Fourth Scherzo. Second half all Shostakovich-the Second Sonata and two of the Preludes and Fugues, including the last with its tolling bell. Multiple encores-Tchaikovsky, Chopin First Scherzo and B Minor Waltz.
Piano out of tune. I hobbled to the bathroom during the break and my wife said a tuner was employed on stage during the interval. Sound notably improved.
Superb concert nonetheless. We all went bonkers with applause.
This was my first acquaintance with the Sonata, an odd lacunae for me considering that I have multiple versions of the Symphonies, Quartets, the Preludes/Fugues, Second Piano Trios. I note that Apple Music only lists 27 recordings of the Sonata vs. well over 100 for the Preludes and Fugues so it clearly isn’t as well known. I won’t critique Kissin in a work that was new to me , but this morning I played the Nikoleva Hyperion recording. Her P/F set on the same label is my preferred and she seems to shape this emotionally ambiguous music , doing a slow burn as she does so frequently in the P/F, in a way that gives the music more of an inevitability. Hopefully Kissin will release a recording and then a comparison can be made.

[Sir Velo]

Interesting programme for Guy Fawkes Night.

[vinteuil]

Interesting programme for Guy Fawkes Night.

... I was wondering

.

[Roslynmuse]

Kissin used to be active in the recording studio - it seems a long time since he released anything new. I seem to remember a Beethoven sonatas disc that was quite underwhelming.

[gradus]

I thought his debut Carnegie Hall recital outstandingly good with some tremendous Schumann, still amongst my favourite performances.

[gurnemanz]

We heard Kissin play in Malmesbury Abbey, Wilts, in the 90s, I think, as part of the excellent Music In Country Churches series - as patronised by the then Prince Charles who lived just down the road. Just like after a church service, the audience all left by the same exit, the magnificent Norman porch. Kissin had positioned himself there a bit like a vicar greeting his flock and shook hands with everyone as they passed by.

[richardfinegold]

Interesting programme for Guy Fawkes Night.

I am not getting the joke

[vinteuil]

I am not getting the joke

... 5/11/2025 to British eyes is 5 November 2025, Guy Fawkes Night

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

.

[HighlandDougie]

I heard him a few months ago in Rachmaninov PC 3 (plus encores) in Monte Carlo. It was keyboard virtuosity at its best without being in the least bit flash. He seems to be a lot happier these days and much more bien dans son peau. Very much anti-Putin. So I envy Richard the Chicago concert

[richardfinegold]

... 5/11/2025 to British eyes is 5 November 2025, Guy Fawkes Night

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

.

And why is the program played an interesting chiding for Guy Fawkes night?

[richardfinegold]

I heard him a few months ago in Rachmaninov PC 3 (plus encores) in Monte Carlo. It was keyboard virtuosity at its best without being in the least bit flash. He seems to be a lot happier these days and much more bien dans son peau. Very much anti-Putin. So I envy Richard the Chicago concert

We are lucky that Putin hasn’t offed him

[french frank]

And why is the program played an interesting chiding for Guy Fawkes night?

Yes, the year should have given it away: 5/11or 11/5?

[LHC]

I heard him a few months ago in Rachmaninov PC 3 (plus encores) in Monte Carlo. It was keyboard virtuosity at its best without being in the least bit flash. He seems to be a lot happier these days and much more bien dans son peau. Very much anti-Putin. So I envy Richard the Chicago concert

Kissin's playing the same programme at the Barbican in June.

When I saw him at the Barbican a few year's ago, he played 11 encores after the main programme and seemed happy to go on playing for as long as the audience remained in the hall. Mind you, Yuja Wang played 13 encores after her recital at the Festival Hall last year.

[richardfinegold]

Kissin's playing the same programme at the Barbican in June.

When I saw him at the Barbican a few year's ago, he played 11 encores after the main programme and seemed happy to go on playing for as long as the audience remained in the hall. Mind you, Yuja Wang played 13 encores after her recital at the Festival Hall last year.

I had been prepared for multiple encores. He stopped at 4 and I exclaimed “That’s it?” audibly and several people around me laughed.
The most encores that I ever encountered were Olga Kern at the Gilmore Festival in Kalamazoo yesterday. There must have been at least seven, all barn burners.

[gradus]

Wasn't Kissin one of the first to give a solo recital at the Proms and is there an available recording of the performance?