Emotional harpist with a versatile menu
Naar aanleiding van Lavinia’s solo-optreden in Monterrey, Mexico, verscheen de volgende jubelende recensie:
Emotional harpist with a versatile menu
After listening to Lavinia Meijer it would be safe to state that the Dutch artist of Korean origin is one of the best harpists in the world.
She demonstrated during her recital, the first concert of the year for Parnassos and the city, that she possesses not only an irreproachable technique, plays with limitless emotion, perfect musicality, but also with charisma, grace, and attractiveness.
The audience that attended Wednesday night at the Auditorio San Pedro left enchanted, literally, with this diminutive artist with a permanent smile and endowed with a superior musicality.
Her credentials include prizes at international competitions and concerts at the most select halls in the world like Carnegie Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
The aural pleasures that the artist delivered were tremendous, began with two sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti for clavichord, which she herself had transcribed for her instrument. Her firm touch of the strings showed the large umbrella of technical possibilities that she possesses. Those nuances were a delight of good taste and sensibility.
Between the pieces, Meijer explained in the clearest English the context or history of the work performed. This established a rapport with the audience that met with warm applause.
The variety of styles which she offered led to the worthwhile and interesting program, among which was the beautiful Sonata of the Czech composer Jan L. Dussek, compositions from the 20th century like the Dutch composer Marius Flothius, born in 1945, an inspired version of “Pour le tombeau d’ Orphée”, and three parts of the “Suite Op.83’ of the British Benjamin Britten.
The first half closed with a sensitive performance of the “Impomptu-Caprice op.9” of the Frenchman Gabriel Pierné.
After intermission, the “Ballade” and “Scherzetto” of Jacques Ibert confirmed two emblematic facets of her artistic personality- a delicateness and an extreme virtuosity.
Although her hands are small, they made magic in “Bugs” by Englishman Paul Patterson. The part that called for the most attention was “Mosquito Massacre”, in that as well as performing the actual piece she musically narrated the rants of a person shut up in a room full of mosquitoes.
With absolute theatrical dominance Meijer made good use of comic acting, together with the perfection of magnetic execution using one or both hands.
The recital ended with one more work of absolute brilliance, the “Theme and Variations” by Carlos Salzedo. Before the standing ovation she gave an encore of a Korean folkloric piece: “Arierang”, an arrangement by her, which enchanted with an engulfing expressiveness.
Alejandro Fernandez Gonzalez
El Norte on January 22
