September 2009

You know, this boy has a special gift. Many pianists could have played his programme with panache, brilliance, depth and all the other things but, in this season's opening piano recital, Alasdair Beatson added more. He imbued the programme with his whole personality, all performed with a sublime touch.

The opening work, a Bach English Suite, clearly indicated what was to follow. In the contrapuntal movements, the voices were clearly expressed, while in the slower Allemande and Sarabande, Alasdair added his personal signature.

The Beethoven sonata Opus 31 No. 3 is a work I know well, having (unsuccessfully) played it as a test piece in an exam many years ago. Alasdair introduced it from the platform. (At this point, I must confess that I warmed to his disarming, unsophisticated introductions. In a later introduction, he ran out of descriptive words and said, "Well, this is it”.) His introduction referred to Beethoven "teasing" us, and that was reflected in his playing.

Alasdair's utterly charming manner must have brought out the maternal instincts in my neighbour, a lady whom I had never previously met. Just before he resumed after the interval, she leaned over to me and said, "You know, you just want to give him a lollipop".

His introduction to the Ades piece, inspired by Dowland, included the salutary words, "If you know the Dowland you could probably sing along to it, but I would rather you didn't". Although I'm not sure if I "got" it, I was struck by the fast note repetitions - extremely difficult to execute - that presumably mimic the lute.

 The Ravel movement, with its echoes of waterfalls, rivers and oceans, gave full rein to Alasdair’s exquisite touch and the Schumann “Abegg” Variations, a highly virtuosic piece, had us rushing to buy his CD (which featured that work), only to find that they had all been sold.

Alasdair returned to the platform to perform a staggering encore: Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” as transcribed in 1976 by the American pianist, Earl Wild.

From Bach to Wild, Alasdair Beatson made me glow. Yes, he has a special gift.

On Wednesday, 14th October, the Kungsbacka Piano Trio return to perform a Haydn trio, the Dvorak "Dumky" trio and the Schubert Op. 99. Having wonderful memories of the Op. 100 trio they played last year, I can hardly wait. See you there.

Paul