In Santa Monica, a Young Piano Virtuoso Presents His First New Composition
The young virtuoso placed his technical mastery at the service of poetry and the singing line. Vladimir Horowitz famously said, “There is no shortage of pianists, only a shortage of composers.” In the new 24 Preludes by Talon Smith (Op. 1)—an astonishing collection of pieces with varying styles and emotions—one had a renewed hope for the future of new music, music that speaks to the hearts of the common men and women, unencumbered by the demands of academia.
The young virtuoso placed his technical mastery at the service of poetry and the singing line. Vladimir Horowitz famously said, “There is no shortage of pianists, only a shortage of composers.” In the new 24 Preludes by Talon Smith (Op. 1)—an astonishing collection of pieces with varying styles and emotions—one had a renewed hope for the future of new music, music that speaks to the hearts of the common men and women, unencumbered by the demands of academia.
Talon Smith approaches Chopin from a composer’s vantage point, not to mention that of a master pianist with an old soul. Smith’s careful scaling of dynamics, purposefully shaped bass lines and perceptive textures lifted the music out of the salon and into the opera house, as if there were a great orchestra in tow. He has that rare ability to generate tension at the softest dynamic levels.
Talon Smith approaches Chopin from a composer’s vantage point, not to mention that of a master pianist with an old soul. Smith’s careful scaling of dynamics, purposefully shaped bass lines and perceptive textures lifted the music out of the salon and into the opera house, as if there were a great orchestra in tow. He has that rare ability to generate tension at the softest dynamic levels.
Talon’s two utterly independent hands and acuity in rhythmic pointing stresses line over mass evoking memories of Josef Hoffman's 1937 legendary Golden Jubilee performance.
Talon’s two utterly independent hands and acuity in rhythmic pointing stresses line over mass evoking memories of Josef Hoffman's 1937 legendary Golden Jubilee performance.
An immensely musical pianist with great imagination. You hear his gift as a composer in his analytical approach to musical matter. This was particularly evident in the Ballade. He hears polyphony very well.
An immensely musical pianist with great imagination. You hear his gift as a composer in his analytical approach to musical matter. This was particularly evident in the Ballade. He hears polyphony very well.
Talon Smith's performance made shivers go down my spine. The program made by the Californian also included, among others Etude in G sharp minor. It was a complete revelation. He made it a kind of inverted Nocturne. He started playing with his left hand like a nocturne song, and his right hand turned into a nocturne accompaniment. In general, there is something mystical, mysterious in his reading of Chopin's music.
Talon Smith's performance made shivers go down my spine. The program made by the Californian also included, among others Etude in G sharp minor. It was a complete revelation. He made it a kind of inverted Nocturne. He started playing with his left hand like a nocturne song, and his right hand turned into a nocturne accompaniment. In general, there is something mystical, mysterious in his reading of Chopin's music.