The Pender Harbour Music Society presented the fourth concert in this season's series at the Pender Harbour Music School last Sunday. Pavel Egorov performed a concert of romantic piano music to an enthusiastic full house audience. During the introduction, Paul Hopkins noted that Egorov had recently been made the Peoples' Artist of the Russian Federation, which is the highest artistic rank in Russia.
The audience knew they were in for a treat. Egorov began with an early sonata by Beethoven (A major, Op. 2, No. 2), which was full of youthful energy and power. The Knabe concert grand piano was truly tested in this work. After the intermission, Egorov literally bounced onto the platform and moved into the music of the world's favourite composer for piano, Frederic Chopin. The performer's dynamism in the Nocturne, Op. 15, No. 1 and in the opening movements of the Sonata No. 3 in B minor was dominant, perhaps too dominant, but when he got to the Largo and Finale of the sonata, the contrasting peacefulness was compelling. Egorov's love of those sections was obvious. On hearing Sonata No. 3, one wonders why No. 2 with its Marche funebre is the more popular work. Three Mazurkas by Glinka ended the concert. A Russian pianist playing a Russian composer's music - what more could you ask for? These are delightful works that make one want to dance. They need to be played much more often.
Egorov is very generous with his talent and it did not take much to bring him back for encores. As a counterpoise to Glinka he played two mazurkas by Chopin. A standing ovation brought him back for Schumann's Fantasiestucke, Aufschwung, a delightful but difficult piece for an encore. Finally he came back on the stage for a total change of pace with Schumannn's Traumerei, a perfect ending.
The Music School is a wonderfully intimate venue for chamber music, and Egorov was virtually in the audience for the whole afternoon. It was like having Egorov performing in your own home.
