This will be the fifteenth anniversary of the Singapore International Piano Festival, as well as its most ambitious. Instead of the usual four evenings of recitals, there are five evenings featuring six recitals given by seven pianists, celebrating Bach’s legacy and visionary genius, with original works, transcriptions and 20th century music inspired by his far-reaching innovations. The festival will run from July 2-6 at the Victoria Concert Hall.
The Hungarian virtuoso Jeno Jando (Jul 2) has become one of the most recorded pianists of all time, with an enormous repertoire of solo, concerto and chamber music captured on the Naxos label. The contrapuntal mastery of Bach, Hungarian folk and dance music of Bartok and Kodaly come alive in his hands, culminating in the monumental single-movement masterpiece that is Liszt’s Sonata in B minor.
The exciting British duo of Micallef and Inanga (Jul 3) has thrilled audiences all over the world with their musical virtuosity, style and panache. Their unique programme showcases a rare performance of the recently discovered original manuscript of Beethoven’s great Grosse Fuge (Great Fugue) and ten variations from Robin Holloway’s Gilded Goldbergs, a revelatory and sometimes anarchic re-look of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
The young Korean master Kim Sung-hoon (Jul 4) was a major prizewinner at international piano competitions at Leeds, Hong Kong and Epinal. Combining deep musicality and insight with an outsized technique, his performances are moving experiences to behold. The spirituality of Bach, the passion of Brahms, and the carnal ecstasies of Scriabin have rarely found a more sympathetic interpreter.
The American Christopher Taylor (Jul 5) is recognised as one of the true super-virtuosos of our time. His Singapore debut features two epochal works of their time, both in the form of theme and variations. Bach’s evergreen Goldberg Variations find a 20th century match in American composer Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated!, a modern and jazzy take on a Chilean socialist song. A momentous recital not to be missed!
The Russian super-virtuoso Konstantin Scherbakov (Jul 6) makes a long-awaited debut at the Singapore International Piano Festival. The 24 Preludes and Fugues of Dmitri Shostakovich were inspired by Tatiana Nikolayeva’s performances at the 1950 Leipzig Bach Competition, and remain one of the great 20th century tributes to the great master. Scherbakov’s selection encompasses simplicity, sorrow and salacious wit with mastery of form in these numbers, marvelously contrasted with the transcriptions of Ferruccio Busoni and Leopold Godowsky. A grand and fitting way to close a festival dedicated to the genius of Bach.
The prize-winning Singaporean pianist Sandi Koh (Jul 6, 4pm) epitomises the rare combination of musical integrity, an instinctual approach to performance, with a touch of glamour. Her recital programme skillfully juxtaposes Bach with late Beethoven - both two sublime works – balanced with showpieces by Chopin and York Bowen. -- www.sso.org.sg
