5 stars
Never has a concert been more deserving of 5 stars.
“…The level of thought invested in Neal Peres da Costa’s interpretation of Mozart’s Piano Concert No 23 in A major, K. 488 (1786) was made clear not only in the extended, and virtuosic, cadenzas toward the end, but particularly in the haunting opening of the second movement which demands a certain lyricism and control.
After a brief intermission came the Overture to Don Giovanni. Its violent anticipation of hell’s opening is well-known, but the effect in the City Recital Hall was stark. The foreboding scales on the winds were played with great effect by Kate Clark and Jessica Lee.
[…]
And despite the sense of rhythmic unity, and the vibrant cascading notes played perfectly by the strings, the independence of each voice shone throughout.
What a fitting way to end this ensemble’s whirlwind tour of the East Coast!
Aryan Mohseni, State of the Art, 26 August 2022
Image: Robert Catto