Beethoven
Done Goode at Finney
Beethoven Connoisseur Richard Goode Opens Artist Recital Series
by Robert Lee Adams
The
Oberlin College Artist Recital Series opened its 123rd season on
Oct. 9 with an outstanding performance by pianist Richard Goode.
More then 950 members of the Oberlin Community and surrounding areas
packed into Finney Chapel to hear the Grammy-award winning pianist
deliver a program of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Debussy.
A native of New York, Goodes résumé includes
solo performances at Carnegie Hall, Amsterdams Concertgebouw
and Londons Queen Elizabeth Hall. He has also performed and
recorded with major American and European orchestras. In 1993, Goode
became the first American artist to record the complete Beethoven
Piano Sonatas, on the Nonesuch label.
The program opened with Mozarts Sonata in F major. The first
work on the program was performed with delicate brilliance. Goode
often smiled and hummed the melody as he played. The opening allegro
was light and playful. The andante was sensitive and the final rondo
was crisp.
Four Preludes by Claude Debussy followed. Full of lush colors, modes
and minute subtleties, Debussys music was delivered with the
utmost sensitivity. Goode displayed great physical enthusiasm when
he played. In the third prelude, Goode nearly jumped away from the
piano at the movements climax.
To
end the first half the show, Goode played the famous Beethoven Sonata
No. 26 named Das Lebewohl or The Farewell.
Well respected for his interpretation of Beethoven, he began the
opening adagio with such authority, one would have thought Goode
had written it himself; every note was executed with such poise
and precision. The spontaneity of the first movements allegro,
the sentimental sonority of the andante and the charisma of the
final vivace left the audience wanting to hear the sonata again.
The program concluded with an exquisite performance of the A minor
Sonata by Franz Schubert. The second half started perhaps a little
slower then would be desired. The first movement was so soothing
that I wanted to curl up and sleep. However, Goode regained attention
towards the end of the second movement with a surprise fortissimo
chord embellished by a loud stump on the piano pedal. That was enough
to keep the audience awake for the rest of the sonata.
For the encore, Goode played Bachs Sarabande from the Partita
in E minor. The piece was short and delicate piece instead
of a loud and flamboyant allowing Goode to demonstrate his scale
playing capabilities.
Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Visiting Professor of Piano, said of Goodes
performance, Mr. Goodes understanding of the music is
amazing.
Indeed,
even someone not learned in classical repertoire would enjoy listening
to Goode. He has the ability to draw in the listener with his charismatic
performing; Goode lives harmoniously with the music.
|