Music

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Pianist's Chopin performance leaves audience lost in a reverie

By: Holly Harris

Posted: 02/22/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

IT seemed fitting that American pianist, Kevin Kenner should mention Faustian influences in one of his all-Chopin program's works. Virtuosi Concert's internationally acclaimed guest artist appeared have made a pact of his own Saturday night, wowing the enthralled crowd with a towering, fiery program in honour of the Polish-French composer's 200th birthday currently being celebrated worldwide.

The dazzling, 46-year-old soloist won top prize at the 1990 International Chopin Competition as well as a bronze medal that same year at the Tchaikovsky International Competition. The two weekend concerts -- including a Sunday matinee -- marked only his second Canadian appearance, which hopefully won't be his last.

The retrospective program was divided into four sub-groups of 16 works dating from 1828 to 1843, each anchored by one of Chopin's four large scale Scherzi. These, in turn, flowed out a handpicked selection of waltzes, mazurkas, nocturnes and polonaises that segued naturally into the next. Arguably, this could have become formulaic, but in Kenner's hands the three initial works only whetted the appetite for the scherzo to come. A natural born raconteur, the pianist also provided fascinating commentary about Chopin's loves and losses before each section, serving as affable MC before turning into a keyboard tiger.

Not one to rely on overt sentimentalism, Kenner's quick-fingered virtuosity became immediately apparent during the opening Waltz in E major, KK Iva/12 right through to the finale Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54 nearly two-and-a-half hours later. After performing two lilting Mazurkas Op. 68 No. 1 in C major, and Op. 17 No. 4 in A minor, he quickly got down to business, pouncing on the bright opening chords of the Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 like a coiled spring and fairly leaping out of his own skin with the work's furious passagework by the end.

Nocturne in C-sharp minor, KK IV a/16 became another highlight that the versatile musician performed as if lost in a reverie. His floating trills and rippling runs sent a shiver down the spine while conjuring heartbreaking tenderness. A gracious Valse Op. 69 No. 2 in B minor showed off his lyrical gifts, that nevertheless moved all too quickly into the subsequent Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39.

After a rousing standing ovation by the audience, Kenner pulled out all the stops with his encore of the militaristic Polonaise in A flat major Op. 53. Just when you thought he couldn't possibly give any more, the indefatigable artist surprised us all with his thundering performance of the noble classic.

holly.harris@shaw.ca

CONCERT REVIEW

Virtuosi Concerts

Saturday, February 20

Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall

Attendance: (183)

four and a half stars out of five

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 22, 2010 d3

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