A multi-talent on the piano

Maybe you mentioned in a such as Alexander Krichel at best, what he can't: Russian, for example, and this is quite noteworthy in the case of a pianist who describes himself as a "Russian character," and in five languages (a sixth, he understands after all). His first piano teacher was Russian, he could not speak with her, what seems to be a disadvantage; the common language was the music.

Also his most important teacher, Vladimir Krainev was a Russian. Krichel had applied for after graduating high school exclusively for the study with him; another teacher would not come for him in question. If it hadn't worked out at Krainev, he once said, he would have studied well medicine.

The Amazing thing is that you trust Krichel, that he would have done it actually. The music was always important for the 1989-born in Hamburg, his Talent was discovered early. But the son of a German engineer and an Italian biologist also had other interests and talents. He not only won the youth music competitions, but also the prices at the German national foreign language competition, "Jugend forscht" in the area of biology and to the mathematical Olympiad. The entrance examination for the special class of the William Stern society for the highly gifted mathematician at the University of Hamburg, he has managed with distinction.

The head would have enabled him to so undoubtedly a lot of things, but the heart is then moved in the direction of the music. As Krainev promised, everything was clear. Krichel was a Pianist, and the success came rapidly: at the age of 24, he had an exclusive contract with Sony, and an Echo Klassik as best newcomer in the bag. In the meantime, you can delete the "young", Krichel there has long been a full concert calendar with many good addresses. And now a new CD, the sixth already. Title: "To the distant beloved".

dedication to the great mother

The title comes from Beethoven's song cycle, the Krichel here in the Piano arrangement by Franz Liszt recorded. Who could be mistress of this "distant": It has always been a mystery. Krichel sympathizes with that hypothesis, which sees the cycle as a personal Declaration of love to the composer, but as a commissioned work; Beethoven is supposed to have for his patron, Prince Joseph von Lobkowitz, composed, and whose wife died – and, therefore, infinite "distance" was.

Also Krichels addressee no longer lives. He dedicates the CD to his grandmother, who he had called twenty minutes before each concert , as he writes in the Booklet; "this feeling that I feel on the Podium probably had to do with her".

But also beyond the personal background of this work just right for him. This is because his speciality is the piano Sing – the paradoxical art, to design individually pressed keys, a Cantabile line. How he keeps the melody and accompaniment at the same time, and couples; how he hinspielt on the highlights, the music to breathe, a gesture after listens: The effect is indeed, often vocal thought.

feeling full Krichel plays this Beethoven cycle, without losing yourself in the Gefühligen. He is not a piano softie. But also not a mathematician behind the keys: "In mathematics you don't find someday, the truth in music," he once said – that's it. The open units in a structure, to the Inexpressible behind the notes. The search for something that never quite.

Tight and

Krichel close to him, however, again and again, also in the other works on this CD. "Liebesleid" and "Liebesfreud," which was written by the violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler, he presents in Rachmaninov's processing as a glittering bravura pieces. In Schumann's Symphonic etudes op. 13, the only original work for piano, he explores, by contrast, emotional Depths, and an almost orchestral sound colours.

And then there's finally, Isolde's "Liebestod" from Wagner's "Tristan", in a Version by Franz Liszt: Nearly nine minutes of this piece, and it is according to the template sealing in tones of emotions. But in Alexander Krichels Interpretation it acts at the same time amazingly lightweight, quiet, transparent. Even in the most agitated passages stung his game sharp, the Remote is anchored with a striking bass tones for sure. And finally, the music itself adopted in the silence.

CD: Alexander Krichel, "To the distant beloved" (Sony Classical).

concerts: Zurich, Kaufleuten, Tuesday, 19. March, 20 At. French Church Bern-Wednesday, 20. March, 19.30.

Alexander Krichel plays the "Liebestod" from Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde" in the version for Piano of Franz Liszt. (tages-Anzeiger.ch/Newsnet)

Created: 14.03.2019, 08:48 PM