Gabrielė Sutkutė at the Lansdowne Club, London
A star in Mayfair shining ever brighter
Gabrielé Sutkuté at the Lansdowne Club for her second recital for Bluthner Concerts. Following on from her superb recital eighteen months ago she was invited to fill this magnificent hall again with her supreme artistry.
Playing of astonishing energy and dynamic drive but also charm and ravishing delicacy in this short showcase recital. A programme that ranged from the trifles of a youthful Beethoven, through the sumptuous rich orchestral sounds of Brahms, the refined simplicity of Rameau but above all the astonishing brilliance of Liszt.
An extraordinary display of transcendental piano playing but above all of a musicianship that could give such differing character to all she did.
There was charm and humour from the very first notes of Beethoven’s seven bagatelles op. 33 which opened the programme. She was living and relishing each note, whether it be a slight twitch of her nose or a glance of recognition, that were just part of the extraordinary vibrant sounds that she was producing at the keyboard. It was Brendel who was sometimes criticised for affectations such as these, but as he said I do not grunt or groan like Glenn Gould but just make grimaces . He tried unsuccessfully to cure himself with a mirror placed strategically in his practice studio, alas to no avail because his love and self recognition with the music were far too strong for such personal trivia ! The second Bagatelle marked ‘Scherzo’ was played with dynamic contrasts and a driving intensity as Beethoven’s spirited humour burst into effervescence. This was followed by the beautiful Schubertian outpouring of radiance and sunshine as one could see and hear what fun she was having. A simple ‘ländler’ followed, interrupted by contrasting brooding harmonic progressions before the return of the opening disarming earthly simplicity. Cascades of notes of the fifth were played with teasing brilliance with a passing cloud and dark change of character for the central episode. It was with simple grace and charm that the sixth was allowed to unfold before the frenzy and hysterical impatience of the final seventh. Long held pedals allowed streams of misty harmonies to interrupt this hurricane of Beethoven at his most impatient – A rage indeed – but with spirited good humour and simply a masterly storm in a teacup!
Read more here at Christopher Axworthy’s blog
