Rochdale Music Society concert: Alexandra Dariescu

Date published: 08 February 2011

Impeccable technique and refined musicianship throughout characterised the playing of the young pianist, Alexandra Dariescu, who captivated the audience in the Heywood Civic Centre for the first of this season’s a concerts organised by the Rochdale Music Society.

From the unusually quirky expression of Beethoven’s E flat sonata Op.31 No.3, with which the concert began, to the heights of concentrated brilliance of Chopin’s Grand Polonaise, Op.22, which brought the music-making to a breath-taking conclusion, Alexandra Dariescu demonstrated the exceptional talent that has already won her acclaim not only in her native Bolivia but all over Europe.

Silky smooth performances of Chopin’s two Nocturnes, Op.27, his Andante Spianato and Schumann’s Abegg Variations complemented the challenging heights and depths of emotion she evoked as the invitation to join her in experiencing the delirium of Debussy’s ‘L’Isle joyeuse’ , the conflict story of the tone-poem Ballade No. 2 of Liszt and the tragic ecstasy of the Liebestod from Wagner’s ‘Tristan unde Isolde’ as transcribed by Liszt – all of which were executed with flawless precision and deeply conceived attention to inner musical details.

The resulting effect was compelling in every case.

This was an occasion when those present needed no persuading to enter with the performer into that extraordinary world of kaleidoscopic delights that great music of any age or kind can provide.

The people of Rochdale have much to be grateful for in the provision of the Rochdale Music Society, whose next concert, a musical evening of favourite opera arias, duets and ensembles with lighter operetta and musical theatre numbers, will be given by Opera Gala on Saturday 12 March –in the Heywood Civic Centre.