Yefim Bronfman

"This is the most difficult thing I have ever done", this is what the daredevil Yefim Bronfman must have been thinking when he was putting this programme together. Virtuosity stands central in this recital built upon the 'Fantasy'. Subtitled 'Quasi una Fantasia' Beethoven legitimises the improvisational character and formal freedoms which he permitted in his Thirteenth Sonata. In this respect Schumann went one step further in his Fantasy in C, opus 17. The Oriental Fantasy 'Islamey' by Balakirev, inspired by folk melodies from the Caucasus, has in fact nothing to do with the sonata form as such. 'Islamey' has long been considered as the one of the most difficult piano pieces. Although the composer had trouble playing the more difficult passages, Liszt could sight-read the entire piece at once. When Scriabin attempted to play the piece he hurt his right hand so severely that he couldn't play for a year! In Ravel's 'Gaspard de la nuit', he attempted to surpass the level of difficulty posed in 'Islamey'. Inspired by the rich imagery in Aloysius Bertrand's poetry, Ravel integrated a hitherto unprecedented opulence into these fantasy pieces. Only the greatest of virtuosos can get through the piece without getting their fingers burnt. Spectacle guaranteed!