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REVIEW: Libor Novaceck

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Tuesday 26th Jun 2007.

Why bother to go and listen to music in a concert hall?

The answer is that reproduced music, however expensive, perfect and sophisticated the system, can never be the same as the real thing.

A good live performance is a fantastic, exciting, personal and enlightening experience.

We recently had such a treat at Devizes Festival when we welcomed back the young Czech pianist Libor Novaceck, who played to a capacity audience.

The programme began with a Mozart Rondo, K485. The delicate, clear sound and musicality of this performance had a soiree-like intimacy in the Town Hall.

Then came a leap forward to an early Brahms sonata and the piano singing great melodies. Here he gave us great lyricism and strong harmonic colouring, fully exploiting the depth of sound and dynamic range of the modern piano.

His next piece, In the Mist, by fellow countryman Leos Janaceck, with its slightly melancholic music, quick changes of mood, unmistakably Czech rhythms and folk song elements, was played with intensity of feeling and understanding.

Finally we heard two works by Franz Liszt. In Orage , a description of a raging Alpine storm, Liborís virtuosity swept us along in torrents of sound.

Vallee díOberman gave some beautiful melodic playing leading through brighter music to an end in quieter mood.

Libor is a great communicator both through his playing and in his introductions to the pieces he played, which added considerably to our understanding and enjoyment.

He also finished with a plea for young people to come to classical concerts. They are the audience young musicians will need in twenty yearís time.

Alison Giles

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