Articles - Event Reviews

Great Performers Series 2008

Swedish Pianist Peter Jablonski Solo Recital

29th September, 2008.

Hong Kong City Hall – Theatre

Piano recital is the best way to start with the week.

The repertoire selection was brilliant ranging from music by Haydn to the Romantic composers, Liszt and Chopin, and to the late-Romantic Nordic composer Grieg.  All the repertoires are masterpieces that require high technique, and Jablonski was handling all well in different genres particularly with his smooth rendering of Chopin and Liszt.

As the concert begins, Haydn's Sonata in D Major serves up a beautiful warm up for both audiences and the pianist.  The first movement is undoubtedly very expressivo, though a firmer pace is generally a more common approach for works by Haydn.  The Vivace assai is vigorous and pleasant, but one would ask for even more energy and life in his playing as is required for the main substance of this light-hearted Sonata.

The second part of the programme continues to bring more excitement to the piano lovers.

"En Reve", Nocturne S.207 by Liszt was a supreme performance with Jablonski’s eye-flashing fingering and cross-handed techniques, and his ability to deliver a full range of complex vocal lines filled all around and mixed with the striking of chords and octaves.  Under the hands and some great pedalling of Jablonski, this music is not even slightly messy.  Perfect articulation and intonation were all through the music.  He has expressed his repertoire in its most natural nuance.

Next up, the Mazurkas were all neatly played and were steadily building up the intensity to heighten the night.  To end the extraordinary night, before the encores, Jablonski plays Chopin’s splendid Scherzo No.1 in b minor.  Jablonski's magical touch creates a wonderful atmosphere. Chopin is truly an amazing composer, one who will always provide the pianists with the broadest spectrum to showcase their techniques and musical touch.

And Jablonski is definitely one of the youngest pianists and the most respected pianists today, alive and reign supreme.

(Review by Celina Ho)