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United Kingdom Bach, Beethoven: Ariel Lanyi (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 14.12.2022. (JC)
J. S. Bach – Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor, WTC I, BWV 849
Beethoven – Piano Sonata No.29 in B-flat main, Op.106, Hammerklavier
To programme Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata in an hour-long lunchtime recital on the Wigmore Hall as his Leeds Competition 2021 prizewinner recital repertoire — together with Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor from Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier — is a daring transfer, particularly for a younger pianist. He demonstrates his critical intentions as an artist by tackling the towering edifice of the usual repertoire whose mighty technical challenges sadly don’t overshadow nor assist in managing its musical ones.
But Ariel Lanyi confirmed himself to be simply that: a critical artist with a robust mind, and to me, listening to him stay for the primary time, nothing appeared extra suited to understanding him as a musician than listening to him play Beethoven’s monumental Hammerklavier Sonata.
Unfortunately, attributable to prepare delays, I didn’t handle to listen to the Bach, however I used to be glad to have crept into my seat simply as Lanyi launched into the Hammerklavier with the resounding B-flat main chord.
Despite Beethoven’s apparent concept of exploring the complete voluminous capability of the piano within the Hammerklavier — a minimum of the piano of his personal time — Lanyi by no means allowed the music to be bombastic however allowed the piano to ring sonorously. He was all the time very lyrical, including rubato the place his refined style of Beethoven’s music deemed acceptable within the first motion, taking note of the melodic strains that intertwine one another amidst the chordal tonalities. There was all the time a robust and clear sense of the counterpoint regardless of how difficult the feel turns into — a mark of Lanyi’s mental prowess — which prevented a sense of overcluttering. He was all the time respiratory with the music as if it got here from inside, giving it a sense of being very pure.
Lanyi not solely confirmed clearly to his viewers the clear logic of the composition — a really tough factor to do with a bit as gigantic and with quite a few twists and turns because the Hammerklavier — but in addition emphasised the significance of sonority in Beethoven’s musical construction, and the way completely different tonal sonorities lead Beethoven down completely different paths. This was most obvious within the Scherzo, by which it’s the fixed pull and tug between B-flat main and B minor which creates the humorous high quality of the sudden.
Lanyi’s clear sense of the completely different tonal centres as organising rules in Beethoven’s music allowed him to painting the fluctuation between earthly wrestle and heavenly reprieve within the beautiful Largo. It was additionally his deep listening and inspiration which gave the music the house it wanted to raise itself from the web page into one thing extra fragile but concurrently treasured; all this with out wallowing an excessive amount of. Lanyi mixed mental understanding and keenness to ship an intensely private interpretation of the Hammerklavier Sonata. This was not one thing he did to impress; this was one thing he needed to share.
The notoriously tough finale — with the monstrous fugue — was dealt with by Lanyi with nice calm and finesse, permitting his viewers to completely concentrate on the interweaving fugal topics and countersubjects. Lanyi’s consideration to the sforzandi additionally offered a way of rhythmic drive to the motion. Given the acoustics of the Wigmore Hall, one may have wished for barely much less pedal to create an much more articulate efficiency, which might have pushed up the depth and pleasure this efficiency was already imbibed with.
Lanyi is a pianist who combines ardour with nice mind. His deep understanding of the music he performs creates memorable and private performances for his viewers. I look ahead to listening to extra of his enjoying sooner or later.
Jeremy Chan