Warwick & Leamington Festival (July 07, 2001)

Saturday afternoon, in the Royal Pump Rooms, Lukas Vondracek reeled off a sensational recital of romantic and early 20th century music. Somewhat of a child prodigy, now pupil of the legendary Vladimir Ashkenazy, 14-year-old Vondracek is already beginning to cultivate his own inimitable style.

However, it is difficult to believe that so small a frame could harness the strength to inject such staggering power into the concert grand's keyboard. His command of the dynamic extremities was simply breathtaking, and the thumb and fist glissandos in Percy Grainger's In Dahomey were, indeed, a sight to behold.

In stunnung contrast, Chopin's Grande Valse Brillante in A flat, though further revealing the expertise and technical brilliance, showed off Vondracek's dynamism and sparkle to maximum effect, while the diversity of textures in Debussy's scenic soundscape, L'Isle Joyeuse, reflected the seasoned interpretational maturity of this young virtuoso.

Robin Leonard

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