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For five evenings the Fourth Miami International Piano Festival
of Discovery recently offered stimulating panels and full
recitals by five outstanding young pianists.
The Lincoln Theater, home for Michael Tilson Thomas' superb
Symphony of the New World, was the ideal setting for listening
and watching as scholars stretched a caring audience's ears
and minds, and two Italians, two Americans and one Russian
offered a richly rewarding fare encompassing a virtual history
of music for the piano.
The 900-seat concert hall rarely contained more than one
hundred auditors, and the loss was strictly to those who lacked
the curiosity to discover not the pianists of tomorrow, but
the great unknown artists of today.
Of the five excellent young talents, two - the Italians Pietro
De Maria and Francesco Libetta - rank with the most celebrated
virtuosi who dominate today's somewhat limited number of popular
contemporary pianists.
The performances began with Russian pianist Denis Burstein,
back for a second season. He was followed by De Maria, the
Americans Adan Neiman and Nicholas Angelich, with the final
piano recital presented by Libetta, who also performed here
last year.
Each of the performers offered varied programs, with a showcase
emphasis upon virtuoso pieces and a few surprises, such as
Libetta's dazzling traversal of a surprisingly effective E.
Risler piano transcription of Richard Strauss' symphonic poem
"Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche."
Technique is to be taken for granted at major competitions
and events such as the one here, but musicianship and understanding
of style must ultimately rule the day.
All but one of the soloists were stage-worthy, knowing how
to bow and communicate their enthusiasm and skills to an audience.
Only two made a serious effort to announce encores - of which
there were generally too many each evening.
Adam Neiman has the only major manager - Susan Wadsworth's
invaluable Young Concert Artists - but he was the one pianist
with so many distracting mannerisms and affections, that it
was impossible to listen seriously without closing one's eyes.
Since Mr. Neiman already is engaged to perform shortly with
the Chicago Symphony, it is clear that many people are not
so disturbed by visual distractions as this auditor.
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