Bargemusic, 3/16/13

Olga Vinokur, piano and Mark Peskanov, violin

As I think I’ve mentioned before, Bargemusic is interesting in that the program is announced from the stage. Indeed, I missed the opening announcement (I was there early, of course, but chose the wrong moment to go to the head—yes, that’s what it’s called on the water!).

So after the concert, I felt OK about asking the pianist who the first composer was. Turns out, it was Domenico Scarlatti. It had the effect of a Bach piece/variation but it was more detailed. It was also very enjoyable. After that, we went to “Pearls of Russian Romanticism,” a title I just stole from a CD that I listen to with some regularity.

Ms. Vinokur next went with Etches Tableaux (all titles from memory or what I thought I heard from the stage), by Sergei Rachmaninoff. I don’t know from specific movements but I heard a variety of mystical/dreaming qualities, louder sections (though still with a gentle quality within), rapid finger work with a very strong presence, followed by a song-like feeling, ending with joyful and playful. Hey, it’s what I experienced.

As an aside, Saturday was a snowy day and the Manhattan skyline kept blurring in and out of view.

The next piece was an Alexander Scriabin Etude (d# minor), with some block chords writing plus some chromatic blending of the chords. A brief but interesting work.

Sergei Prokofiev followed. (True story—in college, I sang for a women’s music club; excerpts from Porgy and Bess. Hello! I’m as white bread as it gets. Still, they enjoyed it. After I sang, the president of the group touted the next month’s presentation—the music of Sehrje Proko-fife—I’m NOT making this up, you know.) Ms. Vinokur played Prokofiev’s Sarcasms, four(?) movements with a great variety of rhythmic sections, mimicing or even pre-Stravinsky?, a vast range of lower and upper keys/strings of the piano, plus an interesting note from me that Ms. Vinokur’s playing was very strong. Artistically, yes. But also finger, wrist and forearm strength.

What followed next was a Rachmaninoff transcription of a Fritz Kreisler violin/piano piece, “Liebesfreude.” Ms. Vinokur hinted that maybe our host of the day, Mr. Peskanov, should join her. Instead, she played the transcription, which was the equivalent of a written down version of an incredible improvisation. You might recognize the tune.

http://tinyurl.com/c5gh53d Sorry there's no video but the audio is worth it.

It’s often played as an encore but the piano version was a real treat.

The concert finished with a nicely turned Mozart violin/piano sonata. Movement one was sunny and bright followed by a second movement that was slower and song-like—cantabile. The third movement finished with a brisk, bright tempo.

There was a brief Q&A session that was a little more lively than some I’ve experienced at Bargemusic—especially as there were only ~20 audience members (see Organ Concert blogpost). Still, hit or miss, I enjoyed Bargemusic on a Saturday afternoon. Check it out, NYC peeps!

ConcertMeister