Famous pianist in full command

Akron Beacon Journal - May 8th, 2008

by Elaine Gureglan

Garrick Ohlsson makes a virtue of middle age.

One of America's most famous pianist, he has been on a successful path ever since winning the Chopin International Piano Competition in 1970-the first American to do so. Now 60, he played Tuesday night at E.J. Thomas Hall like a man at the top of his game.

Ohlsson, who lives in San Francisco, has had a long relationship with Tuesday Musical, which presented the recital. This was Ohlsson's third solo recital and his fifth appearance under the auspices of the Akron organization.

The concert also had special significance as the second Margaret Baxtresser Annual Piano Concert, named to honor the late pianist who did so much to connect people into a strong arts community in Akron. Ohlsson and Baxtresser had been friends; between that and the ecstatic audience response, Ohlsson was in a particularly expansive mood by the end of the recital.

If you had come in late and heard just the encores (three!), you could have gone home happy. As Ohlsson explained before the first encore, the Prelude in C-sharp minor Op.3, No. 2 was Rachmaninoff's most famous piece, and eventually became an irritant to the composer. Crowds used to scream at the composer/pianist to "play it" and Rachmaninoff took to calling the dread piece "it."

Luckily, Ohlsson hasn't developed any such aversion to the piece, which suits his gigantic technique and solid touch. Ohlsson uses his large build at the service of a tone with unusual heft and command. The tolling quality of the opening lines and the solemnly etched melody of the Rachmanioff Prelude may have been ubiquitous at one time, but not now, when piano recitals are rare. Ohlsson made the piece pure Russian drama.

Continuing in the key of C-sharp minor, Ohlsson knocked out a thrillingly fast and accurate version of the Chopin Etude Op. 10, No. 4. It was a wild ride that could only make you smile.

"One more?" Ohlsson silently mouthed to someone at the front of the audience, grinning as he asked. He proceeded with the Chopin Waltz in C-sharp minor,Op. 64, No. 2. Here, he dazzled with the delicacy and lightness of his playing.

Oh, yes, there was more before the encores. Ohlsson began with Prokofiev's Sonata No. 2, Op. 14. His touch was incisive but never britle for staccato attacks. Those trademark Prokofiev runs with the slightly off kilter harmonies were dreamy. Everywhere, Ohlsson made the most of he visceral delights of the score.

Finishing the first half with Chopin's Sonata No. 3, Op.58 was a move well calculated to everyone buzzing with oohs and aahs. This was not the Chopin of a delicate aesthete but of a full-blooded romantic, with jaw-dropping fast runs and a galloping rhythmic drive in the finale.

Whether it was Chopin or three preludes and the Etude Tableau in E-flat minor, Op.39, No.5 by Rachmanioff. Ohlsson's style proved more direct, less buffed and pretty than some other wonderful Chopin players, like Krystian Zimerman or Ohlsson's teacher, the late Claudio Arrau.

Ohlsson is at his best setting out radiantly triumphant lines or flying through fast passages. The Sonata for Piano by Justin dello Joio (son of Norman) didn't draw on these qualities. After the high of the Chopin before intermission, this craggy piece felt like hard work.

If that sounds lazy, well, it's hard not to want to be wowed by Ohlsson when he is so generously equipped for the job. It's good to see middle age presented in such a flattering light.