Salle Cortot, Ludmila Berlinskaya gave a concert of extremely demanding French and Russian works.
The Russian pianist, who was a privileged partner of the great Sviatoslav Richter, has all technical skills to play this kind of programme, but is also an amazing musician.
She opened the evening with remarkable Valses Nobles et Sentimentales composed by Ravel, then a very fine Sonata Reminiscenza by Medtner.
Later on she played a whole series of compositions by Alexander Scriabin: Sonata No.2, with a magical slow movement, 6 of the 24 Preludes op. 11, Sonate No.4, with another absolutely remarkable introductory Andante, 3 Pieces op. 45, the 1st two pieces, Album Leaf and Poème fantastique being really impressive.
Still Scriabin, with Sonate No.9, nicknamed Black Mass, a single movement atonal and dissonant work (use of interval of a minor ninth), one of the Russian composer piano masterpieces, ideally served.
Always Scriabin, with a fine version of Enigma, the 2nd of the 3 Pieces op. 52, and last but not least Vers la Flamme, incandescent and totally controlled at the same time.
She came back to play 2 encore by Liadov, a Prelude and The Music Box, which I had discovered under the expert fingers of Viktoria Postnikova.
PS : I have a single regret: not having been able to see Ludmila Berlinskaya play with the Borodin Quartet…
Ludmila Berlinskaya
Ludmila Berlinskaya
