Having attained a success in the last year’s season, the return of Rafał Blechacz - the unquestionable winner of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 2005 - to Auditorium Santa Cecilia was very much expected. Since then the pianist has been pursuing his wonderful international career.
The recital consisted of the works of Mozart, Debussy, Szymanowski and Chopin. In the first part the young Polish artist immediately exhibited his gorgeous gift for the keyboard, of a light character, playful at times in search of a gallant tone: this is also virtuosity, which was present in nine Variations about Mozart’s Lison dormait KV 264. When performing Debussy’s I’sle joyeuse, Blechacz delighted with an impressive sound, distinct sense of timbre and tone effects. With similar enthusiasm the pianist performed Karol Szymanowski’s Sonata c-moll Op.8 No. 1.
(…) The second part of the recital – devoted to Chopin in full. His talent, very clear musicality, spontaneous and full of contrasts piano art, gentle, delicate and beautifully sounding tone as well as simplicity and naturalness. In the first Ballade g-moll Op.23 we heard the whole immensity of emotions. Through unusual sensitivity the young pianist revived fascinating moods of two Polonaises Op. 26, four Mazurkas Op. 41 and Ballade F-dur Op.38. Triumph!
/Rome, 27.03.2011 Corriere della Sera, Luigi Bellingardi/