Janina Fialkowska

Audience as a Critic - 2018-2019

AUDIENCE AS CRITIC – MARCH 4, 2019
POLAND & PADEREWSKI 1919

JANINA FIALKOWSKA, piano

Programme

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart    
Sonata No. 8 in A minor
Germaine Tailleferre
Impromptu in E major
Gabriel Fauré   
Nocturne No. 4 in E flat major
Francis Poulenc
Intermezzo in A flat major
Claude Debussy
Poissons d’or
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir
Maurice Ravel
Sonatine
Frédéric Chopin
Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39
Nocturne Op. 55, No. 2
Mazurka Op. 67, No. 2
Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2
Mazurka Op. 33, No. 4
Ballade No. 4, Op. 52

YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Emma Johnson, soprano
Megan Dufrat, piano

Giuseppe Verdi
Ah! Non m’hanno ingannata… Grave a core innamorato

AUDIENCE COMMENTS

“Touched by the Divine”

Magnificent! (SM)

Such perfection takes one’s breath away. Total clarity in every phrase crafted with perfect shape—each note perfectly played—even at the softest level. One can only dream of the way the music sounds. Chopin – words fail. We have been touched by the Divine. Simply amazing. (VH)

Unbelievable. (LA)

Wonderful to have Ms. Fialkowska back again to hear her in the (mostly) French repertoire of the first half. Nothing “off the rack” in her playing—she has thought and felt the music through and communicates it. The white heat of the concert was in the last Ballade—singular, gripping, brilliant! Unforgettable. (ME)

The ceiling camera above the piano is most appreciated. It is a nice addition to see the virtuoso’s hands and fingers instead of just hands gliding across the keyboard! I wish they would do this at the concert hall. It surely helps me (anyway) alert and virtually able to visually follow the chords! Thank you for a beautiful concert! (M)

Emma Johnson—great singer. What a privilege to hear Janina Fialkowska. (MPL)

It was a wonderful evening for me so I posted the following to my Facebook account: Virtuosi Concerts (UofW) was totally awesome tonight. Featured artist was Canadian- born internationally-renowned pianist Janina Fialkowska. She played six classic composers in the first half, and just thrilled the audience. Then she turned up the talent another notch to fill us with amazement from her interpretations of Chopin. She is well-known to be a specialist in his works. It was an awe-inspiring evening. Such talent; such musicianship! Congrats VC. Bring her back again soon, if she can fit it into her schedule. The pre-concert interview was done by Sarah Jo Kirsch with Janina’s husband, who is also her agent and manager. Lots of interesting stories to prepare us for the evening. Also, on this concert’s Young Artist Program was Emma Johnson, soprano and Megan Dufrat, pianist, performing a Verdi aria. Emma won the WMF Rose Bowl two years ago, and is now studying on her Masters at UofM Desautels School of Music. She has a lovely voice, with strength throughout, and no strain in the production. I am confident that her teachers will help her choose repertoire appropriate to her ability and talent. We wish her success in a singing career in opera. Megan is a very sensitive accompanist. I enjoy listen to her tune to the nuances of the singers.

The preconcert talk was useless. We did not subscribe for these. It was a time waster! Please no more of this preconcert talks! (The Pre-Concert Chats are scheduled to start 45 minutes before the concert. The March 4 concert was postponed by 30 minutes to 8:00 pm, which may have made it appear the Chat was part of the actual concert.)