PianoArts 2014, Solo Recital 7 - Allison Freeman

Allison's opening piece is Bach's Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp minor, BWV 849. Daunting piece with which to begin. The fugue is a 5-voice fugue. She brought out the entrance of each nicely. Her control over the mood and color of the piece is also nicely done. Freeman's second piece, her contemporary selection, is Nach Bach: Fantasia for Harpsichord or Piano by Rochberg. Freeman told us that this piece comes with an instruction manual for the performer, so she thought if the performer needed an instruction manual, the audience must too. She broke down the piece into 4 ideas for us (can't resist...going to have some fun the two composer's names): 1. Direct quotes from Bach, specifically his 6th partita in E minor; 2. Quotes from Bach, but embellished by Rochberg; 3. Material written by Rochbeg hat sounds as though it was written by Bach; 4. Rochberg's original material. One other of note in this piece: a quote from Brahms' Op. 117. From Rochberg, we've moved right into Chopin's lush Nocturne, No. 16 in E-flat major, Op. 55, No. 2. I like Freeman's decision to program this nocturne after the Rochberg piece. Provides a beautiful contrast. Up next is one of Rachmaninoff's Étude-Tableaux. To be exact, Étude-Tableau in A minor, Op. 39, No. 6. Rachmaninoff is my favorite composer so I'm looking forward to this piece. :) Freeman has a good mastery of the technicality of this piece. She shared with us that this étude is based on the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big, Bad Wolf. Concluding her program is Chopin's Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52. Massive work and well played.