American classical pianist Roman Rudnytsky took his audience on an international journey through music and time last Saturday at the Prince Cave Hall.
Rudnytsky, who was on a brief two-island musical tour hosted by the US Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, showed his range and ability in a two-hour performance before an appreciative audience.
Rudnytsky began in 20th century Guatemala, starting the concert with Manuel Herrarte’s lively Tres Danzas. He then journeyed to the Romantic era of classical music and the late 18th century Vienna musical scene dominated by Beethoven before closing the first half with the music of another Romantic master, Robert Schumann.
He paid tribute to Schumann on the bicentenary of his birth with a moving rendition of Des Abends, as well as one of his best known pieces, the complex and intriguing Carnaval.
Rudnytsky also paid tribute to Chopin, whose bicentenary is also being celebrated this year, with the Polish-born composers Scherzo No. 2, Barcarolle, op. 60 and Grande Valse Brillante, op. 18.
Rudnytsky then took the concert back into the modern era with a rousing performance of American composer Aaron Copland’s El Salon Mexico, a tune which he described as embodying the “sheer energy” of the United States.
After the energy of Copland, the concert took an about turn with the serene, peaceful Venus the Bringer of Peace, from English composer Gustav Holst’s The Planets.
Rudnytsky provided a final flourish to close an excellent show with a performance of Franz Liszt’s muscular, full-bodied Grand Galop Chromatique. (PR)
