Mark Viner at St Michael & All Angels bringing mastery and discovery to Chiswick
Superb playing on home ground for one of the finest but most neglected pianists of his generation. Having already many CD’s with five star reviews to his name here he was tonight in the beautiful church in Bedford Park where he also serves.
Liszt and Alkan were both fervent believers and it is in their works that this master pianist excels. However his programme tonight opened with two declared atheists with Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque. Both were played with impeccable style and intelligence but it was Alkan ‘s ‘Chant d’Amour’, ‘Le tambour’ and Liszt’s ‘Vallée d’Obermann’ that truly ignited the atmosphere as Mark entered a Romantic world of questioning ,doubt and passionate acceptance.
The first work was the so called ‘Moonlight’ Sonata which was a name penned by the publisher to help boost sales. It has become one of the most instantly recognisable of Beethoven’s 32 Sonatas as the first movement is seemingly easier than his others .It became essential fodder for most aspiring amateur pianists back in the days when the aspedestra and upright piano would reign in the front living room where now sits a giant TV screen!
