KEY POINTS:
It was a piano recital well out of the ordinary, coupling Tchaikovsky's The Seasons with Liszt's titanic transcription of Beethoven's Choral Symphony.
And Russian pianist Konstantin Scherbakov displayed the sort of virtuosity that is not daily fare for Auckland audiences.
Working through Tchaikovsky's musical calendar month by month, Scherbakov caught the individuality of each piece, from January's Schubertian fireside dreams through to December's whirl around the Christmas tree in waltz time.
Emotions were carefully restrained in June's Barcarolle and October's Harvest Song; July's reaping was done to magnificent slashing chords, and September's hunters seemed be as much in search of a full orchestral setting as any wild beasts.
Unlike Liszt's initial Beethoven transcriptions, the Hungarian composer's take on the Choral Symphony wasn't written for his own concert use but rather as a tribute to the older composer.
Liszt is endlessly ingenious, inspiring Scherbakov to feats of piano-playing, particularly where gradations of dynamic levels were concerned.
This was apparent in the suspense-laden opening page; even more so with the knife-edge voicings in the demonic second movement.
Scherbakov's subtle caressing of the third movement made it sound more than ever like a premonition of Schumann.
The Russian spared nothing for the mighty Finale. Schiller's words and anthemic chorus may not have been on hand, but not for a fraction of a beat did one feel deprived.
How disappointing it was to see the hall half-full for the kind of programme one dreamed of experiencing 20 years ago. One only hopes this fine recital is better patronised throughout country.
