Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Russian pianist provides musical interlude

By Karina Rajtar
Cardinal Staff

Classical music lovers got a special treat on Sunday, Sept. 16. When the music department sponsored a free concert featuring Russian pianist Svetlana Belsky.

During the nearly two-hour performance, Belsky demonstrated musical versatility and a passion for her work that captured the audience.
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She clearly enjoyed herself as she proceeded through a carefully-chosen program highlighting the works of Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Jacques Duphly, Ludwig von Beethoven, and Frederic Chopin. The consideration and thought she put into the recital was evident in the detailed explanations of each piece and its composer.

Belsky’s entrance into Figliulo Recital Hall was a quiet and modest one. She walked straight to the piano and began to playing Brahms’s “Three Intermezzi, Op. 117.” The piece was slow and, although beautifully played, did little to spark initial interest in the program. The next three songs were more upbeat and exciting, and it became increasingly easy to lose oneself in the music and the stories behind it. Even Belsky appeared deeply lost in what she was doing.

She finished with Chopin’s “Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1” and was met with appreciative applause and a curtain call. Altogether, the concert was a pleasant and peaceful break from the pressures of the new school year.

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