As opposed to the majority of solo performers, who usually perform in the minor Zankel Hall and Weill Recital Hall, Piotr Anderszewski played in the main concert call of Carnegie Hall – the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. Known for its remarkable acoustics, performances of world’s most famous virtuosos and orchestras in the hall can be watched by an audience of over 2,800. At Anderszewski’s recital, the hall was filled to capacity.
In the first part of the concert, the artist presented Bach’s Overture in the French style, BWV 831 and Schumann’s Novelette in F sharp minor (op. 21, no. 8). After an intermission he returned to the works of the two composers. He performed Schumann’s Fantasy in C major op. 17 and concluded his concert with Bach’s English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV 808.
The New York-based music critic and pianist Roman Markowicz notes that Anderszewski was in a great shape.
I believe that he was born to interpret Schumann. He’s got the sensitivity that’s needed in this composer’s music. He’s also a valued performer of Bach’s work, whose music he performed with a perfect sense of style, with the complete awareness that he’s performing on the piano; he’s not acting like a harpsichordist – the critic assessed.
The audience awarded the composer with a stand-up ovation. Anderszewski repaid with his favourite encore, Bela Bartok’s Three Hungarian Folksongs from the Csik District. When he was called forth again he presented the first three of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Six Bagatelles, op. 126.
Anderszewski’s recital in Carnegie Hall differed from previous concerts performed in this concert hall; at the composer’s request, the whole room, apart from the keyboard and the chair, was dimmed.
The audience had to focus on music completely, because they couldn’t read the program or stare at their phones. The atmosphere forced the audience to pay the not so common attention. I think this was a brilliant idea. Not too many artists requested similar scenery before.
– Markowicz said.
In his article announcing the performance of Anderszewski, the New York Times critic, Anthony Tommasini called the composer “the superb Polish pianist”. BroadwayWorld.com regards Anderszewski as one of the outstanding musicians of his generation.
Recent engagements of the composer, as listed in the BroadwayWorld.com article, include appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and Vienna Symphony Orchestra, as well as three appearances in Bamberg as part of a residency with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Additional highlights include a series of recitals with baritone Matthias Goerne in Vienna, Berlin, and London.
Source: PAP – Andrzej Dobrowolski, nytimes.com, broadwayworld.com, edit. TS, transl. Agata Dudek, 23/03/15