ENGLISH | DEUTSCH

Wiener Zeitung (Vienna Times)
Monday, October 14th, 2002

R. Harwood, D. Harlan Stadtinitiative
Vienna: Thursday, October 10th, 2002

At one with the instrument

"[Richard] Harwood belongs to those musicians who, from the first moment onwards, lets you forget that an instrument is talking and not the musician himself, and it's the composition and not their own feelings which determine the musical expression. Harwood's musical emotions are so immediate and all technical difficulties are mastered with natural ease.

Harwood's interpretation of Claude Debussy's Sonata was perfectly free and inspired. Beethoven's Sonate Op.5 no.2 in G minor was full of expression and breathtaking phrases.

At the piano, Dominic Harlan was musically and technically an equal. One didn't envy him in Mendelssohn's Sonata No.2 op.58 which flew with a soaring tempo throughout, nevertheless, containing finely articulated runs and wide melodic phrases.

Martin Butler's "Siward's River" was an Austrian premiere - a lyrical work which required complete bow control in its use of open strings and harmonics.

Anything else other than a big soloist career from this 23 year old Heinrich Schiff student would be a surprise."

Rainer Elstner