Sunday 28th April 2013
Kausikan Rajeshkumar — Piano
Review by Terry Keeler
Kausikan Rajeshkumar
Templewood, Northrepps 28th April 2013
The first five notes played in the treble from Scarlatti’s D minor Sonata K213 introduced this young pianist’s musicality to the attentive Templewood audience. This work in one movement, contrary to Sonata form, a slow moving tempo played with deep sensitivity. The next Sonata K141 also in D minor being in complete contrast to the K213 demanding a flawless technique especially in the groups of presto repetitive notes of the same pitch. This being just two Sonatas from the 555 keyboard Sonatas Scarlatti wrote!
Then from the classical to the romantic came Schumann’s Carnaval op 58, a composition of many miniatures (tiny scenes) composed on just four notes, a masked ball being the idea, very fanciful but with a good result.
After the interval, a masterful performance of Chopin’s Sonata in B minor in four movements, Allegro, Scherzo, Largo and Presto.
The last work on the programme was Impressoes seresteiras Festa no sertao by Villa-Lobos. This had a strong influence of melodies and rhythms of Brazilian folk tunes and was a fitting end to this concert, whereby the brilliance of this artist was truly awe inspiring to say the least. No wonder he holds many prizes and accolades when playing in prestigious venues.
It should be mentioned that he stood in at very short notice owing to illness of the billed pianist, Manon Ablett.
The final concert of the current series at Templewood, Northrepps is on Sunday, 26 May at 3.00 pm with Huw Wiggin (saxophone) and Tim Abel (piano) - not to be missed, I assure you!
Terry Keeler
Tel 01263 513273