A piano recital and a stroll

I was in London for a concert. I was seeing the pianist Yevgeny Sudbin play a recital at LSO St Lukes.

It was a varied programme

Alexander Scriabin
Sonata No 5 Op 53

Dmitri Shostakovich 
24 Preludes Op34

• No 6 in B minor
• No 17 in A-flat major
• No 24 in D minor

Sergei Rachmaninov

Preludes Op 32

• No 12 in G-sharp minor
• No 5 in G major

Preludes Op 23

• No 5 in G minor

Alexander Scriabin
Sonata No 9 Op 68 ('Black Mass')

Mozart arr Sudbin
Lacrimosa

Yevgeny Sudbin 
A la minute: Paraphrase of Chopin's Waltz in D-flat major, Op 64 No 1 (minute waltz)

The two Scriabin pieces were the most dramatic with moments of high drama and intensity and real contrast of darkness and light. I also enjoyed the Rachmaninov. My only real disappointment was the Mozart arrangement which was a bit throw away.

There were two encores (the second I particularly enjoyed).

Alexander Scriabin
Etude in c sharp minor Opus 2, No 1

Frederic Chopin
Ballade No 3 in A flat major

If I am honest I'd have thought the Chopin would have been better as part of the main programme with the Paraphase of the minute waltz as an encore.

There was real intensity to his playing which matched the music. But please tell us what the encores were! We're not all experts !! (I asked LSO what they were).

Before the concert I was in Hyde Park the light was dull, no doubt caused by the pollution (the air "tasted" a bit odd). The birds were a bit quiet but a few Blue Tits and Great Tits came to the hand as did a Robin.

Tawny under cover.....

We ate a Sandwich in Bunhill Fields burial grounds and listened to the birds before listening to Mr Sudbin!