Garam Cho at the 2015 Hastings International Pisno Concerto Competition photo: John Cole

Garam Cho winter recital

At the end of this week 2015  HIPCC Joint Second Prizewinner Garam Cho will be performing a varied programme of pianistic challenges that could have been assembled by Liszt himself as he toured Europe in the mid 19th century, writes David Pullen.

Liszt evolved the idea of the public piano recital in the 1830’s, which would typically  have a varied programme of composers and periods. If he were to arrive today, he might be appalled both by the dearth of anything remotely contemporary in a recital and the fact that the most challenging piece, for pianist and audience is  his 150 year old Sonata!  Might he at least slip in a bit of  the recently departed Boulez in homage to the man, even if he didn’t personally rate the composer?

HIPCC5 March 2015Semi-Finals Garam Cho (through to the Finals) Photographs 2015 (c) John Cole

Lets face it, the recital is just a vehicle to show off the pianist, a perennial, and totally unfair, accusation levelled at Liszt in his day, with works that explore the amazing new worlds of sound that opened up in the nineteenth century as the fortepiano was gradually transformed into the monster modern grand. Delicacy, rapid passage work, sustained chords, massive fortissimos, all available from thousands of wonderful pianists. New colours, new insights into the music, new juxtapositions between pieces ? Why not?

Firstly Garam Cho plays arrangements of Bach by Liszt’s fellow composer (Brahms),  followed by one of the most popular and dazzling of the Sonatas by his greatest hero, Beethoven.  Next some unashamedly romantic and novel works by another, then contemporary, German composer, Mendelssohn, whose music was very popular with amateur pianists and so helping to spread the new poetic compositional style.

However few amateurs then, or now, would tackle Liszt’s greatest and longest piano work, the hugely original Sonata in B minor. The name itself is reassuring – but this is no normal sonata, with three movements and a firm basis in one key. Liszt here is exploring the very limits of the piano , and of compositional convention, and whilst its kaleidoscopic nature is typical of the extravagant romantic music which would reach on for many decades to the likes of Rachmaninov, it also had in it many of the new ideas  about music that Wagner, and still later Debussy and Bartok would exploit.

Even today, only the most accomplished of pianists would tackle such a piece, and so we are very fortunate to be able to hear it performed by Garam Cho. And unlike at a Liszt recital, you won’t have to worry about the piano itself giving way under the onslaught of power and dexterity that await it on  23 January. Just come and appreciate the great playing of one of the greatest pieces of classical music.

Programme:

J.Brahms Anh.1a/1 no.5 – Exercise for the left hand after the Chaconne from
J.S.Bach‘s violin Partita in D minor BWV 1004

L.v.Beethoven – Piano Sonata Op.57 No.23 in f minor ‘Appasionata’

Intermission

F.Mendelssohn Bartholdy – Songs without Words, D major op 85 No 4,
F sharp minor op 30 No 6, F sharp minor op 67 No 2.

F.Lizst – Sonata in B minor S 187

The girls at Helenswood Academy will enjoy a rare treat a day earlier on Friday 22 January when South Korean born Garam Cho performs for them too as part of HIPCC’s educational and outreach programme. The aim is to stimulate interest in classical music with the chance to hear a world-class young pianist.

Isabelle Ho plays Beethoven Sonatine Minuet in G at Priory Meadow. ©Alexander Brattell

If you like to play the piano or just to listen to the piano being played, then Priory Meadow on  19 -21 February is the place to be.  HIPCC invite you to email them for a pre booked slot or text 07788 723 003, otherwise just turn up and they’ll fit you in at the first opportunity. Adults may play for up to 20 minutes but children can play for as short a time as they wish. If you want to bring a friend and play a duet please do! Music teachers are welcome to bring pupils. 

If this inspires you, don’t forget to drop in at the White Rock Theatre from Saturday 28 February, where the preliminary stages of the competition take place for just £5 per session ticket! Under 16’s have a special opportunity to enjoy the First and Second Stages of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition with a free ticket for any child under 16 accompanied by a paying adult. HIPCC also offers free transportation to students attending the early stages of the competition, and they are making a special offer of tickets to school teachers for all stages up to and including the semi-finals. Please email to register your interest.

HIPCC Prizewinners’ Series Winter Recital 23 January at The Recital Room, Fairlight Hall, Martineau Lane, TN355DR Tickets £15 to include a glass of mulled wine and mince pies, available online or at Hastings Tourist Information Centre, Aquila House. 01424 451111. Gates open at 11am, recital at 11.30am.

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