Not at all Lugubrious! - Sunday, 7 November

Antti Manninen, pianist

Just about every Sunday The American Church in Paris sponsors a 5:00 p.m. free recital (offering basket at the door) in their theater or their sanctuary. Today a young Finnish pianist by the name of Antti Manninen gave a program of works by Tschaikowski (seven movements of his "Seasons," op.37b), Albeniz (the allegretto from his "Rhapsody Espanol," op.70), Sibelius (movements from "Valse," op.24/5 and "Romance," op.24/2), Merikanto (the andantino from his "Sur la Mer" arrangement for piano, op.47/4) and the world premier of Krzysztof Aleksander Janczak's "Ballade No.1." The tempo marking for this last piece was "andante lugubre" (or a lugubrious, mournful walking tempo!). I didn't find it particularly lugubrious, but instead forceful and complex and reminiscent of the style of Rachmaninoff.

It was a great recital, and I'm guessing that 150-200 people came. Unfortunately, there weren't any introductions, so I don't know much about the performer, Mr. Manninen. Although he appears a bit stiff in these photos (typical Scandihoovian!), his playing was very musical - lyrical, forceful, and intelligent.

The program notes did say that the composer, Mr. Janczak, had studied composition and orchestration in Warsaw and Paris. The composer was filming the recital, but I didn't think to take a picture of him - duh! 

(Notice the great seat I had! For once I got to a concert early!)

You'll find lots of free and inexpensive concerts and recitals in various venues across Paris on Sunday afternoons/evenings - I highly recommend them - you'll have great experiences in beautiful surroundings and often support important emerging artists in the process!