Radu Lupu

He's getting wilder looking thru the years. I"ve only heard a couple of things by him. Certainly passionate.

The concert last night was wonderful. See Lupu, if you can, on one of his too rare concert appearances. He is only performing twice in the UK this year (last night in Brighton, plus the same programme of Janacek, Beethoven's Appassionata and Schubert's D959) in Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre in a few days' time. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the encore that he played, one of Brahms' late Intermezzi.

I had expected the hall to be sold out for the visit of so august a pianist, but it was far from so. Anyone who could get to the Oxford concert would do well to enquire about tickets.

Graham

PS: If any opera house needs a stand-in for Wotan, Mr Lupu would be ideal, with his long shaggy hair now gone white, and a real middle age spread. I don't know if he can sing, although I rather suspect not, judged by his Gould-like singing along to the music that he was playing.

Graham,
I'm glad you enjoyed the concert and all I can say is that I'm extremely envious. You, in the UK and in Europe, in general are very fortunate to have so many opportunities to see all the current, great performing musicians. It surprises me that the hall was not sold out? Maybe this is what happens when you have too much of a good thing and you don't realize what you have access to?

Concerning the "Gould-like singing": Actually, that isn't just a Gould-like phenomenon. Most pianists do this (especially during practice time) and most are probably not even aware that they are doing it. So the habit is there but I might suggest the it would be nigh impossible for these people to create music like they do without this form of internal singing/harmonizing. I speak from experience as I do the same thing and know a great many others in the same boat. Part of it is just being so involved in the music and staying focused. I believe it also helps with memory.

I'm sure you hear very little of this in the recording industry as they must dub most of it out. To me, I view it as a natural part of the music and helps me connect with the performer.

Regards,
Doug

You were lucky to see Lupu in person. His concerts and recitals have become increasingly rare as he has stated that he doesn't like performing. He's also stated that he's done recording - his last disc was his Schumann disc from many, many moons ago. He's never even made it to where I live, and I doubt I'll get to hear him in person. A great pianist indeed.



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Doug and Todd

Radu Lupu's 'vocalising' didn't spoil the event for me in any way. It was just weird that he didn't do it in the (comparatively slight) Janacek opener nor the beatific Brahms encore but that it emerged when he was really 'going for broke' in the Beethoven and Schubert pieces. I agree with you, Doug, that most serious performers probably do so, without realising that they are. The wonderful Maurizio Pollini is a serial grunter. And one could be forgiven for thinking that the Vegh Quartet recordings of Beethoven's Quartets are in fact quintets, with the sublime Sandor Vegh performing nose flute obbligato.

As to the non sell-out, I wonder whether the fact that Radu Lupu seems to have stopped recording entirely (as Todd confirms) means that music lovers (particularly the younger ones) don't realise what a keyboard magician he still is. The speed of his hands in the Beethoven finale created a blur.

One comedic note to add. Lupu clearly didn't know the geography of Brighton's Dome concert hall: at the end of the opening piece, he headed for what was clearly a solid partition, before turning sharply left to gain the Exit!

Graham

I saw him a couple years ago at Disney Hall. They interviewed him before. quite interesting but not charismatic. Two women near me commented on him looking like Rasputin.

I wouldn't go that far, but he was wonderful to hear tho I can't remember what he played.

I saw Radu in Cupertino with SF Symphony about 2 years ago playing Mozart 20. Great authority, seemed to slow down and almost stop and start at will, thoroughly enjoyable as he seemed to be enjoying himself as well.

Jeremy, I've just finished reading a review in today's Times of a concert that he gave in London's Barbican Hall with Colin Davis conducting the LSO within the past day or so. The piece? - why Mozart 20! I quote from the review:

"Lupu sits at the keyboard like a man watching cricket, but fingers and feelings never snooze. Here were miracles of unforced delicacy, airy fingers musing and prancing with that visionary penetration and gentle kiss that marks him out as the subtlest of the piano gods......."

I'm sure that you can access the full review online.

G

PS :There was no reference to this concert on the website which I looked at when sending my earlier post. So apologies for the inaccuracy above.

I've been a fan since hearing his Schubert Impromptus disc. I saw the Mozart 20 with the LSO, which was a great concert.

Life is rather busy at present so I doubt if I can get to Oxford but would be there under normal circumstances.

duncan