Rilwan Hamzah, Contributor, Jakarta
Not many pianists have the technical and emotional scope of Alexey Botvinov.
His extraordinary versatility was showcased in an Oct. 22 recital at the YAMAHA Music Hall in Jakarta. Unfortunately the hall's 250 seats were only two thirds full, perhaps due to a lack of publicity.
Botvinov opened his recital with Chaconne in D minor from Violin Partita No.4, BWV 1004, a piece by J.S. Bach. There was a fascinating ebb and flow to his playing, echoing the dynamism and tension of this typical baroque composition.
What makes this number interesting is that it was actually written by Bach for the violin, but the great Italian composer, pianist and conductor Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) later arranged it for a solo piano performance.
Botvinov again demonstrated his range and artistry when his played three works by F.Chopin: Nocturne in D flat major, Op.27 No. 2, Ballade No.1 in G minor Op. 23 and Ballade No.4 in F minor Op. 52. He really captured Chopin's romantic style while playing the pieces. With his high fingering technique, he explored all of the chords without hesitancy; the music slowly and smoothly swelling from pianissimo to fortissimo.
Botvinov briefly introduced the compositions he was going to play, though he admitted backstage to being more comfortable communicating through music.
The Ukrainian-born pianist was really in his element performing the works of the Russian composers Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff, his powerful finger work producing a sound that could have filled a concert hall of thousands.
It has been said that Rachmaninoff, a composer, pianist and conductor, had enormous hands that were able to span the interval of a 13th on the keyboard, which makes many of his works extremely difficult to perform. But Botvinov interpreted them without any difficulty, and no false notes.
After performing Tchaikovsky's works from Seasons, Op. 37a, Rachmaninoff 4 Preludes and Elegie Op. 3 No. 1 (which is one of his favorites ), Botvinov demonstrated his other talent as a music arranger, when he played Poem Op. 38 no.6 Au!, Romance Op.21 No.7 : How Fair This Spot and Op.14 no. 11: Spring Water which were all composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, but arranged for solo piano by Botvinov.
Standing ovations were given at the end of the encore: Prelude in G minor Op. 23 No. 5 by Rachmaninoff and a glorious bouquet was handed to Botvinov by the Hungarian ambassador, Mihaly Illes, concluding the unforgettable concert.
This is the first time Botvinov has ever visited Indonesia, and he was pleasantly surprised by the skill level of the young pianists who joined his master class on the Sunday before the concert.
""To my surprise, the techniques of the students here are way above my expectations, it's a very good thing to know, and they should continue and maintain this,"" he said.
Despite his vast experience and status as a famous pianists with many concerts and recordings under his belt, Botvinov is a very humble and low-profile person. He chatted with the audience after the concert, signing autographs and posing for photos.
Botvinov really is a pianist for whom everything seems possible.
