Wellington-based, internationally known concert pianist Jian Liu, head of piano studies at the NZ School of Music, is an impressive soloist who held the rapt attention of the large audience in a brilliant performance of the Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor.
He deftly interwove the sinuous melodic lines of the first movement with the elaborate orchestral score, while always sensitive to all the detailed expression required.
The brief, gentle flowing intermezzo was the perfect foil to the explosive finale.
This was brilliantly played with a strong rhythmic sense that captured every detail of the music, complemented by an orchestral accompaniment which seemed entirely at one with the soloist.
The Blyth Performing Arts Centre was a perfect venue acoustically and in its dimensions for this concert, especially for the complex Symphony No 1 in C minor by Brahms.
It is easy for an audience to lose interest in such a work, but Aparicio's choice of tempi were just right as he literally danced his way through all four movements.
There was always a sense of immediacy in the playing, careful attention was paid to every detail of the score as the performance held the full attention of the audience.
There were highlights in abundance - a plethora of finely shaped solo lines, the pizzicato playing, and the grandeur of the famous theme in the last movement for example.
A credit to all the players, but most particularly to the conductor for his skill and imagination in mounting such a programme.
