Krystian Zimmerman, a world-renowned pianist, walked on stage greeted by applause at the University of Richmond Monday night.
Zimmerman’s reputation as a concert pianist preceded him and he dazzled the audience with his skills late into the night.
One reason for the applause may have been the audience’s familiarity with the music.
VCU student Henry Lopez said that he recognized the finale, “Chopin’s Funeral March.” Others said Zimmerman’s attitude affected the performance.
“He came in focused on the music. There was no prefacing of the music,” Bob Thoms, a VCU alumnus, said.
“He played with subtlety and had great clarity, tone, and melody. He covered all the bases for what one wants in a concert like this. The pieces were very difficult, which is why I was impressed he pulled them off,” Thoms said.
During Mozart’s Piano Sonata in C Major, Zimmerman leaned toward the piano keys while playing a loud, almost harsh, section, and leaned back during a light airy piece. He repeated that technique for a few other songs. His hands seemed to dance along with the lively music. This was more pronounced when he plucked the keys.
In Ravel’s “Valse nobles et sentimentales”, the music was louder, and harsher. One could imagine lightning striking. For one pause he swept his hands behind him in a large arc. The pitch and tempo varied moment to moment. This change in tone was common in the last two pieces.
“Zimmerman has both talent and tone extraordinaire,” said VCU student Calvin Sutton.
“I’m here to enjoy the beauty of the music,” said University of Richmond student Allison DuVal. “I’ve heard it said that this music is like the “song of a nightingale,” and I agree with that statement.”
“He’s fabulous. I loved the Mozart, the Ravel was better, and the Chopin was the best,” said audience member Anne Halladay.
In the “Funeral March”, Zimmerman’s hands moved fast. Thoms said, “He had great dexterity.” Yet, his feet moved as fast on the pedals as his hands did on the keys.
In Mazurkas the tone was in the higher, major chords. On the third pause he took between sections, Zimmerman lowered his head to the keys as though he could hear a faint noise, but there was just silence.
Or maybe, the pianist heard something only a truly great artist could ever comprehend.
At the end of the concert, he received a standing ovation from the full house.