Vivid piano recital

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 6

Vivid piano recital

By

C. FOSTER BROWNE

Richard Mapp’s piano rental last evening in the! State Trinity Centre showed Jis secure technique and imaginative interpretations n pleasing glow. There was rivid flourish in his playing/ ind forceful eclat, as well Is poetic sensitivity and

l clear understanding of thei I music’s purposes. He began with Haydn’s I Variations in F minor, a work j typical of the grace and poise of its time. Each variation was given essential phrasing, l in clear, flexible, and ex-; pressive meaning. Schubert’s Sonata in A 1 was given stylish interpre-1

tation in warm and alive tones, with niceties of balance and shading, and splenFour short Concert Studies, dei and heartfelt playing with sympathetic intensity of expression well suited to its prevailing dark colourings was heard in the second movement, and crisp playing of the scherzo brought out its merry and playful mood. The trio section was appropriately tender and gentle. The rondo was warm and rewarding music, building to expansive climax, it was a glowing performance. Chopin’s Ballade in A flat! was given outpouring of feel-; ing, and the performance had' adventure and achievement. I didly turned phrasing. Ten-j written by Edwin Carr in 1973, were interesting andi charming. The first had tune-' ful filigree, and the second; was mainly rather savage.; The third was music of dark; shadows and not particularly; friendly, and the last was' lively and percussive. Richard Mapp served the com-! poser handsomely and gave; authoritative renderings, im-l aginative and subtly expressive. The last work, Scriabin’s Sonata No. 5 in F sharp, was lively, highly imaginative, and brilliantly coloured! music that had an air of ex-1 cited challenge. Richard Mapp; created its tensions, its over-' coming of frustration, and: its intense and incandescent! reply to all forces aimed at! it in a vividly imaginative performance.