REVIEW: Pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski

Russian-born pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski is quite the storyteller. In fact, his performance style draws one along in much the same way a master storyteller is able to use dynamic extremes and subtleties, construction of images, pacing, anticipation, and …surprises.

On Sunday afternoon, Soukhovestski appeared as the second pianist in a series of three concerts under the auspices of the Evelyn Miller Young Pianist Series. His program selections followed a noticeable arc -- Schubert, Strauss, Liszt, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev--although describing exactly what the gradation was would be difficult. I single out two pieces in particular for special note. First-- an arrangement by Percy Grainger of Richard Strauss' Last Love Duet from his opera Der Rosenkavalier ( entitled The Ramble on the Last Love Duet from "Der Rosenkavalier"). Soukhovestski rendered the emotion and drama of the scene with extremes of dynamic subtlety that was thrilling. Second-- the Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, op. 29 of Sergei Prokofiev, written in 1917, is a workout and a test of extremes, probably best not left till last on a program. On the other hand, it ends so exuberantly, it is practically impossible not to feel hopeful, if not optimistic.