The Golden Age of Piano via Unknown Composers

Goethe Institut Auditorium.  Bangkok, Thailand.  March 4, 2013.  Pianist Ernest So, born in Hong Kong, educated largely in the US (Julliard), and now living in London, made his second appearance in Bangkok within a year, to present another fascinating musical journey.  Based on these two lecture-recitals, So specializes in bringing attention to composers whom no one has heard of, or who are rarely played, such as Sergei Bortiewicz, Julian Aguire, Louis Aubert, etc. (you get the point).  What makes the dapper So’s events so enjoyable, is that he provides fascinating and relevant information about the composers and the works he is about to play, and that he plays the piano so well.  He ties the evening together with unifying and clever themes, such as tonight’s program entitled “The Golden Age of Piano,” in which he related very famous pianists of the 20^th century to the unknown compositions So played.  Not exactly a recital, and not exactly a lecture, it was what Jeffrey Siegel calls his own programs:  keyboard conversations.  I hope So makes his Bangkok visits yearly events.