MUSICROMANIAN-born pianist Alexandra Dariescu was welcomed to the concert platform by the West Wight Arts Association on Saturday.
A glance at the concert programme hinted we were in for a special performance with works from Bach to Beethoven and Chopin to Dutilleux and we were not to be let down by Alexandra.
The programme began with a confident rendering of J. S. Bach’s Partita No.3 in A minor, a set of dances. These were interpreted with great tonal and dynamic variety and accomplished musicianship.
This was followed by a wonderful contrast — Dutilleux’s Prelude No.3 — which showed off mastery of colours, space and movement. This exquisitely crafted work had the left hand mimicking the right and gave the impression of "gradually getting nearer the sun".
Beethoven’s Sonata No.18 in E flat major also known as "The Hunt" Sonata and is the last of his piano sonatas to contain more than three movements, and no slow movement. The work was well interpreted by Alexandra, particularly the Allegro with its joyful cascading harmonies.
If the first half had been a musical and technical success, the second half was all this and a musical atmosphere which only accomplished musicians can bring. Chopin’s two nocturnes Op27 Nos 1 and 2 were wonderfully interpreted, the second, in D flat major, moving people to tears with its atmospheric tender reserve. The Polonaise-Fantasie Op.61 followed, and took us on a wonderful journey, resembling the Ballades in "telling a story".
The programme ended with Ravel’s Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit and Debussy’s L’isle joyeuse, the Ravel portraying a dream-like encounter with a water sprite vainly attempting to entice the poet to her palace at the bottom of the lake.
And finally the musically and technically brilliant Debussy – the Greek island of Kythera being the happy isle of the title, again evoking a wonderful atmosphere.