On Saturday, Evgeny Kissin again visited the Stockholm Concert Hall. A formidable effort, playing two Piano Concertos, Mozart No. 24 concluding the first half of the concert, and the Schumann a minor concerto alone in the second half.

The Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra under Alan Gilbert started with the Manfred Overture by Schumann. This is a piece I have never really come to favour, and the playing by the orchestra did not reveal any music not heard before.

The Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 was played at an unusually slow pace. Kissin’s poetic and flexible way of playing was not matched fully by the orchestra, which sometimes had difficulties in adapting to the changing pace. By and large though, it was a fine playing by the orchestra, and some of the wind soloists made a musically very sensitive effort and responded well to the pianist.

Schumann’s Piano Concerto in a minor is too frequently played. Kissin, with Alan Gilbert and the Stockholm Philharmonic, gave a fresh and sparkling performance though, making it more than worthwhile to listen to it again. Unlike the Manfred overture, this interpretation made me hear a richness of musical details and ideas I have not heard before.

More than a quarter of classical music fans have tried cannabis, according to a BBC News article. I am among the three quarters who have not, but considering the way Kissin and the orchestra played, one should not have been surprised, I guess, to see the odd puff of smoke from the balconies :-) This time though, the fans were content with enthusiastic applause, which did not want to abate. Kissin very kindly responded with no less than four extra pieces by Chopin. Impressive - not least after playing two Piano Concertos!