BIMF. Clara Schumann fulcrum of the passions in the music of Robert and Johannes, in an outstanding concert

Pubblicato da: Redazione in English Articles, Puglia, Puglia 1 Giugno 2014

by Enzo Garofalo

The concerts proposed by BIMF – Bari International Music Festival, a 3-year-old concentration of Italian and international talents, continue to sell out in Bari. Young and acknowledge musicians and brilliant programs, but above all a festival that right away, thanks to the high-quality performances, has managed to create a popular interest around a genre such as the chamber music considered extremely niche, thus demonstrating that usually the opinions about the alleged poor taste of the public are mere clichés peppered with prejudice.

The quality of this festival has been confirmed, for the umpteenth time, by the last night’s concert, the third of the planned series of five, presented as always by Stefania Gianfrancesco and held in the baroque church of Santa Teresa dei Maschi, crowded to the point that it was necessary to add a good number of extra seats (all for paying public). The underlying theme of the concert, entitled ‘For the Love of Clara’ and spinning around three compositions of great beauty and complexity, was the private relationship between three famous figures in the history of music: the German composer Robert Schumann, his wife Clara, and their compatriot Johannes Brahms. The official biographies tell how the three triggered an ambiguous “correspondence of amorous feelings” (at the age of twenty, Brahms stepped into their house as a student of Robert Schumann), whose innermost developments, however, is not given to know after all, save for certain letters occurred between Brahms and Clara proving a crescendo of intimate confidence. It is certain, however, that her presence as a woman as well as an artist (she was a pianist and a composer) inspired the two men to compose works in which many elements show passion.

The Sonata for Cello and Piano in F major op. 99 by Brahms opened the evening. Composed during a holiday in the beloved Swiss town of Thun, it is a work of great serenity, though not devoid of melancholic and nostalgic veins recalling the fiery and restless youth spent in contact with Schumann family. The energetic force of the piece, interspersed with the melancholy lyricism of the wonderful Adagio, has been excellently played by the cello of Jonah Kim, and the piano of Angelo Nasuto. Mr. Kim, regarded by American critics as the new Yo-Yo Ma, wowed the audience with his extraordinary ability of interpenetration with the score, his exceptional control of the instrument, a crisp and deep sound, and a rich and intense phrasing. Winner of the 2013 BIMF Award, Mr. Nasuto had the opportunity to perform on stage with a fellow like Mr. Kim, and proved himself fully up to the task. Winner of numerous national and international competitions, he showed excellent quality and interpretive techniques that make him a musician worthy of attention.

The Three Romances Op 94 for violin and piano, written by Robert Schumann in 1849 as a Christmas gift for his Clara, are intimate and melancholic melodies that gave the audience a true moment of ecstasy owing to the attention paid to the sound, the transparent phrasing, and the seductive lyricism performed by Australian pianist David Fung, in a duet with the violinist Liya Petrova, one of the wonderful “revelations” of this year’s Festival. Despite being just 24, she is a well established artist in Europe, a child prodigy who has been treading the boards since the age of six. Personality, charisma, a masterful control of the full range of expressions and feelings, an absolute mastery of vibrato and phrasing are the main strings to her bow, arrows which, in this festival, are all hitting the bull’s eye.

The final piece proposed was the Quintet in F minor for piano and strings, op. 34 by Johannes Brahms, a true monument of Brahms’ chamber music production, written and reviewed under the direct influence of his muse and friend Clara. Passion, love, lyricism, mystery, they all have found expression in a kaleidoscope of melodic and harmonic solutions that literally mesmerized the audience. Along with the aforementioned Liya Petrova and Jonah Kim, the talented violinist Dennis Kim, the excellent violist Molly Carr, and the skilful pianist Fernando Altamura performed the piece. True pillars of this festival, we will meet some of them again in the new BIMF concert on June 4 (the Festival ends with the concert of June 7).

PHOTOGALLERY

BIMF 2014 - Il quintetto formato da Fernando Altamura (pianoforte), Dennis Kim (violino), Liya Petrova (violino), Molly Carr (viola), Jonah Kim (violoncello) - Ph. Ferruccio Cornicello - All rights reserved Feart ®

BIMF 2014 - Il quintetto formato da Fernando Altamura (pianoforte), Dennis Kim (violino), Liya Petrova (violino), Molly Carr (viola). Jonah Kim (violoncello) - Ph. Ferruccio Cornicello - All rights reserved Feart ®