Sunday Afternoon Recital: First up was Israeli pianist from Ukraine.  Started with Scarlatti, and although it was played correctly, it was missing the sweetness and exuberance.  Perhaps tempo was rushed, or nerves played a hand.  His Mozart was better.  He is a tall, slender man with a very strong jaw.  Wore a silver shirt of silky material-shades of American Idol.  The Mozart was at times heavy.  Not effervescent.  He followed with Schumann's Humoresque, which sadly was overlong...three times I thought (with some hopefulness) that the piece was coming to a close; but there was more.  

Moving on to the second pianist:

Then, there was the third pianist, who completely won me over with his reading of the Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2 in b flat minor.  After the poor performance of this wonderful sonata the previous night, I now feel I can leave Fort Worth in peace.  This pianist is Ilya Rashkovskiy, who played on the NY Steinway.  He opened with Beethoven Sonata in a flat minor, Opus 110; then played Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in g minor, then closed with the Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2.

This is another very tall, handsome youth of about 25 years. He had a very hard act to follow, since the Bulgarian pianist won over the Hall.  (I'm going to do my write-up on him tonight after tonight's recital.)  Seemed to start his Beethoven with great trepidation and a too-light touch (not into the keys deeply), even in passages where he was playing forte.  By the second movement he got more comfortable--again, nerves may well be playing a role.  Interestingly, I keep thinking: "how can these pianists have nerves of steel so that they never appear nervous?" The answer may well be: they appear calm, but their playing is not as confident as it would be if they were playing in their own living room.  At any rate, the Adagio was soulful, unhurried.  Tempo was a little rushed from what he initially established.  By the fourth  movement, he was in complete control of a wonderful fugue: elegant, and beautiful, with subject clearly articulated in all it's repeated voices.  He played this with aplomb and power, and there is a passage with chords progressively crescendo-ing which added to overall positive effect.  Then, the fugue began again very quietly.  My neighbor commented that it is rare to have such a fine reading of a late Beethoven sonata by such a young pianist.

He played the Chopin Ballade very well, showing he can do soulful--as one would expect of a Russian pianist!  A few places he rushed where he should have lingered, but overall a beautiful piece done very well, especially the last movement.

Now, the Rachmaninoff (those who know me well know that I am a true Rachmaninoff fan, so I was heartbroken for the poor reading it received the previous night).  This time is was just what I needed to hear--what we all needed to hear.  A beautiful, sensitive, well-voiced, introspective and yet passionate reading.  The mysterious Russian soul was completely captured.  He opened the 2nd movement as beautifully and as sweetly as you please, with creamy harmonies and leisurely timing.  For the 3rd movement, it was like Rachmaninoff himself was seated at the keyboard.  I could just see it!  No artifice, just beautiful music--he played it straight, as I imagine the melancholy Rachmaninoff would play this sonata.  He let the music speak for itself: passionate, majestic, mysterious, at times plaintive.    Wonderful end to this recital--really hope he moves up to the Semifinals.   

His face is a picture in concentration, not as easy to read as previous pianist (again, saving that write-up for later), but no detracting mannerisms.