MUSIC REVIEW: Zuk Piano Duo plays with heart (11/16/03)

MUSIC REVIEW: Zuk Piano Duo plays with heart

by Thomas Davidson

MONTREAL - After numerous days of rain, the clouds lifted and the sun shone here on Tuesday, October 28. That evening the Zuk Piano Duo also gave an eagerly anticipated and heart-warming concert at McGill University's Pollack Hall to a large and enthusiastic audience.

The program began with excerpts from the monumental and somewhat sombre "Musical Offering" by J.S. Bach. Almost in homage to the atmospheric and meteorological conditions of the recent past, the thickness of contrapuntal texture and the continuous falling chromatic lines of the thematic material in the music gave the listeners cause for reflection. The Zuks suitably captured the architectural design of the music.

The sun then came out in the "Hymn to a Great City" by Arvo Pårt. The simplicity of he work's harmonic structure and its spacious design gave the Zuk Duo an opportunity to show off their exquisite control of tonal color and balance. This was tone-painting of the highest order.

Since the program began with Bach, it seemed most fitting to end the first half with George Fiala's Sonata for Two Pianos. This very skillfully crafted work is rich in counterpoint and also contains a great deal of variety. Here, the pianistic prowess of the performers really came to life. Their deep understanding of the music was realized through absolute control of rhythm and texture. Contrasting musical ideas were clearly presented and each one came alive with its own individual character. A wide dynamic range and the duo's trademark control of sound were also noteworthy. The performance left this listener wanting to hear the piece again in order to retain the wealth of this "musical offering."

Luba and Ireneus Zuk are well-known for their premiere performances of contemporary music, and this occasion was no exception. The second half began with a wonderful performance of "Ancient Dances of Verkhovyna" by Yevhen Stankovych. In this engaging work, a complex and driving rhythmic figure was used throughout. Here, Luba Zuk showed off an admirable control of rhythmic articulation while her brother, Ireneus, provided orchestrations over-top with sounds that ranged from swirling cloud-like wisps to bell-like sonorities. The presentation was very effective.

This program was not without its stormy moments either. Take their performance of Liszt's "Mazeppa." However, the excitement managed here was not at the expense of a grandiose symphonic scheme. Liszt would have been proud. This was an impressive technical display at the service of the music.

The Zuks were called back for an encore - the second movement from a Sonatina by Ihor Bilohrud, involving a wistfully romantic folk-song melody. The playing of this beautiful piece exemplified the way the Zuk Duo seemed to invite the audience to join them for a personal and heartfelt evening of music. This is what communication and artistry is all about and was perhaps the most striking feature of the performance.

Thomas Davidson is professor of piano at the School of Music at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, faculty lecturer in musicianship at McGill University and executive member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators' Association.

| Home Page |