Chamber
LEE TRIO AT SPRING LAKE VILLAGE WITH A RARE ENCORE
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Symphony
SADAVA CONDUCTS ELEGANT SO CO PHIL INAUGURAL CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Chamber
POTENT SCRIABIN INTERPRETATIONS AT SPRING LAKE VILLAGE RECITAL
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Symphony
ODYSSEY IN THE SEARCH FOR YUNCHAN AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL
by Abby Wasserman
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Chamber
VOM FESTIVAL'S CLOSING CONCERT A CELEBRATION FOR STRINGS
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Chamber
RITE OF SPRING FOR 88 KEYS AT VOM FESTIVAL
by Pamela Hick Gailey
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Choral and Vocal
A POET'S LOVE SONG CYCLE AT VOM FESTIVAL JULY 27
by Elly Lichenstein
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Other
CHARMING "BARBER" A MENDO FESTIVAL TRIUMPH
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Friday, July 21, 2023
Recital
RARE RAVEL IN MENDO FESTIVAL'S PRESTON HALL
by Terry McNeill
Thursday, July 20, 2023
SCHUMANN QUINTET PERFORMANCE RESCUES VOM FESTIVAL'S SECOND CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, July 16, 2023
|
 |
 Pianist Judy Walker at Concerts Grand |
IDIOMATIC SCHUMANN AND BEETHOVEN HIGHTLIGHT WALKER'S CONCERTS GRAND RECITAL
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Mostly known as a concert producer and indefatigable promoter of Sonoma County music, pianist Judy Walker stepped into the soloist’s role Sept. 23 in a sold out recital for the Concerts Grand House recitals series.
Two Scarlatti Sonatas, in D Minor (K. 213) and D Major (K. 29), began the hour-long event, and she played the first slowly with a lingering character, and the presto D Major with crisp attention to flamenco guitar mood and fast repeated notes in alternating hands. The three inner parts to Schumann’s five-part Op. 26 Faschingschwank aus Wien followed. The wistful and beguiling romanze led easily into the scherzino in B Flat, both performed vigorously. Ms. Walker gave passion to the popular E Flat intermezzo, certainly echt Schumann playing.
Arguably the afternoon’s best playing came in Beethoven’s Les Adieux Sonata, Op. 81a, and according to the artist’s pithy introductory comments it was written in 1809 and was a bridge from the virtuosic Waldstein and Appassionata Sonatas to the seminal and spirited late piano works. Parts of the opening adagio-allegro with its fast staccato chords were a challenge for Ms. Walker, but she played the lovely andante (l’absence) at just the right tempo (not overly slow) and a rich tone.
One of Beethoven’s most joyful movements, the concluding vivacissimament was appropriately exultant and the phrases picked up in momentum towards the end with the cascades of descending and then ascending notes. The pianist clearly had an affinity with this humorous and sprightly music, and the playing received substantial applause.
Though no encore was provided, Balakirev’s arrangement of Glinka’s original song The Lark could have been one. Next to the novel harmonies of the short introduction the main laconic and sad theme was set out by Ms. Walker with clear trills and concise pedaling, allowing the haunting melody to be heard through the pianistic filigree. A captivating performance.
A patio buffet honoring Ms. Walker’s Concerts Grand debut followed the recital.
>Among attendees was the artist’s teacher, Peggy Nance, who played a Concerts Grand recital during the inaugural 2003-2004 season in SRJC’s Newman Auditorium.
|