Simon Trpčeski Pianist
I have been enjoying Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5, which I will soon be recording. It features this wonderful mix of oriental flavours and French charm, and the balance between the piano and the orchestra is so well done. I am amazed by the lightness of the soundworld in this concerto: there is a feeling of pure joy, yet the overall result is never less than fulfilling. A great example of Saint-Saëns’s superb abilities as a composer.
I have also been revisiting Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, and I am amazed once again by the immense power of this piece. It seems to make some profound statements about the incomparable inner power of the human being, and it is all socrafted by Shostakovich. Living through such continuously unsettled times as we are at the moment, this work’s unending drive reminds us that humankind must always find a way to victory – so that we can make a better life for ourselves and for our children.
