The lunchtime concerts at Saint David’s Hall are usually a relaxed affair. An imitate feel and a small audience help to add to a relaxed atmosphere.
On the piano, Ivan Ilić plays with effortless precision and a delicacy I have rarely seen. In this hour, we heard him play Chopin, a world premier by John Metcalf and Scriabin. Although not a populist blockbuster programme, it held up well as a enjoyable hour for aficionados of the keys.
The Étude in E and the Nocturne in É by Chopin are instantly familiar. Although Chopin is usually a first name to come to people’s mind when asked their favourite composer, for me he lacks a robust aesthetic in his work.
As for the Metcalf premier, Chant although not pianistic in the general sense, it centred the programme well. In the Scriabin preludes, you hear a composer who is blossoming in the rich late 19th, early 20th century mindset. It’s borders on Modernism and you feel the music could turn on its self at any moment.
The Guirlandes a more austere piece, bordering on atonality. The quieting notes, we’re spoiled by an audience member’s phone. This ended the concept in an uncomfortable way.
But we did get to hear Debussy’s La cathédrale engloutie as a dreamy sort of encore from his majestic pianist.