Pawel Sobowiec and Krzysztof Trzaskowaski were the stars of the evening.
They allowed a small group of piano aficionados to celebrate along with them and their home country, Poland, the “Year of Chopin”. Brought to India by the Bangalore School of Music, Krzysztof and Pawel are both well versed with Chopin, his life and his music.
Both pianists, though only 23, displayed a ripeness and skill way beyond their years. Pawel, born in Lublin, has been playing since the age of seven; he is now a student at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
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Krzysztof is also well versed in the master pianist's work and a fellow student at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. Pawel started with the Sonata C-major XVI/48 composed by J. Haydn, a light hearted, airy piece interspersed with a serious bass and he played with surety and elegance. Krzysztof then came in and played Rondo C-minor op.1, one of the first pieces ever published by Chopin. Krzysztof played with a languid maturity that came across even through the energetic notes of the harmony. His gestures and the sway of his head, the rise and fall of his shoulders, conveyed the emotions the music spoke of through every bar of the piece.
The Etiude A Flat-major op. 10 nr 10, played by Pawel was a short piece, played with a stylish flourish. Krzysztof then took over for the Mazurka A-minor op.17 and Mazurka B-minor op.30, a composition that was traditionally Polish in its essence, almost like a folk song that you do the polka to. Krzysztof was so sneaky and quiet; the notes he played stole in quietly, an entry you would have missed if you did not pay careful attention. It rose up and then slowly slinked back into silence.
Pawel played the Polonaise A Flat-major, which was his highpoint of the evening. He took the concert to another level with this masterpiece by Chopin. Both the artistes played with confidence and élan. The night resonated with the fullness of music coupled with appreciation and awe.
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