Murray Perahia Back at Strathmore

Charles T. Downey, Murray Perahia’s piano recital at Strathmore delivers on expectations and exceeds them (Washington Post, March 6, 2014)

Schumann, Papillons (inter alia), M. Perahia (CBS Masterworks, 1990)

One expects certain things from a recital by Murray Perahia: some carefully chiseled Bach, some Chopin or Schumann miniatures performed with a rubato so spontaneous that they sound as if they have just been improvised. The celebrated American pianist, now in the fifth decade of his career, delivered all of those things during his concert Tuesday night, presented by the Washington Performing Arts Society at Strathmore.

The fourth French Suite was classic Perahia Bach, with no need to make grandiose statements, just to let the music unfold: a blithe allemande, a tripping courante, a delicate sarabande, sprightly small dances with curlicue decorations, a brash gigue. Schumann’s “Papillons” was enlivened by tiny voicing details, like the brushstrokes and fine shading of a master painter, a series of whimsical thoughts rambled out like a Romantic stream of consciousness. [Continue reading]

Murray Perahia, piano
WPAS
Music Center at Strathmore

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