Pianist, Angela Hewitt Triumphs at Wigmore!

Cruising the Internet on May 24th, I sprang upon a link to Angela Hewitt’s second appearance at Wigmore Hall since the pandemic. Tantalized by her program of Domenico Scarlatti and Enrique Granados, composers wedded by their dance-like rhythmic vitality and folkloric, heart-throbbing melodies, I set aside my own practicing to affix my attention to the screen. My next task, after 20 minutes of ingesting impeccable, phrase perfect artistry, was to alert my piano students to the imminency of clicking in–certainly before the 30 day expiration! “Rush to hear Angela Hewitt!” You may not have a second chance! I madly sent an email to my East Coast harpsichordist friend, Elaine Comparone, a Scarlatti royalty member in the performing/recording cosmos:

“I am bowled over!!!!!This is incredible playing.. Scarlatti, Granados!”

I couldn’t help but inject the pedagogical dimension of Hewitt’s approach to the piano in my internet driven fervor! Look at those supple wrists, the relaxed, unimpeded energies flowing down her arms. The trills are literally rolled out from the wrists. The melted cadences-the singing pulse and tone–an awareness of harmonic rhythm and its emotional effect.

Naturally, what increased my pleasure was having studied and recorded a handful of the programmed Scarlatti sonatas–K. 1 in D minor, K. 11 in C minor, K. 87 in B minor, and the Tempo Di Ballo, K. 430. My own exposures as a performer (on You Tube) and teacher fostered a sanctified cove of intimacy with these works. Same for the Granados outpourings that included Danza Espanola in C minor (Orientale), my Senior Recital finale at the Oberlin Conservatory. Years later a few students would rekindle that memory by taking the journey again with me–a deeper immersion with each revisit.

I couldn’t help but compare Hewitt’s recital to those I attended as a child in my native New York City. I can’t forget sitting in Carnegie Hall’s highest balcony, riveted to Richter, Gilels and Ashkenazi playing to the heavens. The pianissimos melted into my lap while the articulated climaxes lifted me to heights of exuberant pleasure.

Decades later, Angela Hewitt by her soulful, nuanced playing, imbued with a poignant eurythmic dimension, embedded a long-lasting memory.

It is rare that a recital beamed over the Internet can bridge the gap of what a LIVE concert would communicate. But this special broadcast shimmered with immediacy and intimacy. (I admit to dabbing tears from my eyes)

The Fazioli sang and danced with Angela Hewitt! Brava!

from Arioso7's Blog (Shirley Kirsten)
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/pianist-angela-hewitt-triumphs-at-wigmore/