Cambridge is blessed with some of the finest classical piano music in Europe in the person of Patrick Hemmerle, first prize winner at the Paris Conservatoire in 2002, and now, in his early thirties, showing a maturity of interpretation, delicacy and power that bring out the full meaning of pianoforte.
This concert consisted of Frank Martin's Eight Preludes (1947-8), Chopin's 24 precludes, and as encores, Gluck's Melodia (arr Scambati) and the final movement of Beethoven's Tempest sonata. Every element, from Martin's seismic base chords to the most delicate lyricism in the Chopin and Gluck, to the pace of the Beethoven, was brought out impeccable technique and timing, combined with studied passion. Other pianists are more famous than Patrick (for the present) but it is simply not possible to play this music better.
Liking or not liking the pieces is almost irrelevant - I'm not sure Martin, in what Mr Hemmerle described as his "Protestant austerity", would have wanted his music to be liked. Even the Chopin, for all its ecstatic moments, reflects the dark side of life, including Chopin's own life, in a way that is not always enjoyable, and may not be intended to be so. As performance, however, Mr Hemmerle's is high art, and this was reflected, for once, in high denomination notes in the retiring collection. Chapeaux bas, mesdames et messieurs...