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Photos by Violeta Jeliazkova |
Tania Stavreva’s piano recital was event not to be missed
by Marc Rossi, Composer/pianist
Professor, Berklee College of Music
Tania Stavreva’s piano recital on June 23rd 2009 at Suelly Hall in Boston, was an event not to be missed. She played a wide variety of works, from the powerful and percussive Ginistera Sonata No. 1, to the intense and |
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virtuostic Vers la Flamme, poeme by Scriabin, to the N. E. premier of the abstract Sparks from the Beyond by Israeli composer Gil Shohat, to the exquisite Debussy preludes Les sons et les parfums tourent dans l’air du soir, and Bruyeres. Stavreva has technique to burn, and that having been said, these works were all played with flair, sensitivity, musical depth, and a clear intention of what the composer had in mind. If you, like Horowitz’s Scriabin, you’ll like Stavreva’s. It’s that good. I also found the Debussy a refreshing breath of fresh air, full of sonority and color, beautifully contrasting the other works.
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In keeping with her choosing pieces of dazzling virtuosity, she also presented N. E. premiers and performances of two other new works by living composers in addition to the Shohat-- Australian composer Carl Vine’s Sonata No. 1, and Bulgarian composer Alexander Vladigerov’s Variations on a Bulgarian Folk Song "Dilmano Dilbero." |
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Though clearly influenced by Ginistera, Bartok, and other 20th century composers, the Vine sonata is a thoroughly post-modern work with an intense lyricism emerging from the complex 20th century modality and dissonance. To this listener, it was the most satisfying of the new works she chose in its scope and originality, and Stavreva played it brilliantly. As with the Scriabin, it would be hard to imagine a better performance.
The Vladigerov variations is a work reflecting many pianistic voices, culminating with a harmonically rich section reminiscent of Rachmaninoff, Stavreva’ s broad interpretive skills allowed her to bring each variation to life—from then ubiquitous percussive and asymmetrical meter sections, to the grand romantic. She was at ease and in control of all aspects of the piece.
I believe Tania Stavreva is on her way to becoming a major artist. She has the technique, soul, and musical intellect to achieve this, and we all will be the beneficiaries.
See more photos from the event >>
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