Concert programme hits the spot, but not the interpretation

It was bound to happen one day – leaving a Perth Piano concert not 100% satisfied, writes Garry Fraser.

Not with the programme, as Schubert and Beethoven are ideal stablemates. No, it was Lars Vogt’s interpretation on Sunday which left me without the tingling sensation I usually get from this series of concerts.

Presenter Kate Molleson described him as “thoughtful and unflashy”, but I’m not sure I agree. There were moments of extrovert showmanship and his thought processes of interpretation were of the “more haste, less speed” variety as some astounding accelerandi threatened to run away with things. This was particularly evident in Beethoven’s last sonata, the wonderful Opus 111.

The first half of the concert was devoted to Schubert’s D899 Impromptus, regular inclusions to the Piano Sunday concerts.

In these, I thought Vogt got it almost right. Some of the power play was, well, too powerful, but he got the subtlety of the flowing E flat major Impromptu and the cascading semiquavers of the fourth.

Beethoven’s sonata usually thrills me and leaves me marvelling at its unique construction. Although there were some moments to savour – I thought the Arietta start of the second movement was spot on – the moments of fire and impassioned intensity were too much, as well as the forementioned increases in tempo.

The Beethoven replaced the original choice of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. When Vogt announced he was going to play Bach’s original theme as an encore I was intrigued.

Although taken at a fast-ish tempo, I felt that the substitution might not have been the correct course of action.