An extraordinary event occurred yesterday afternoon in First Church. It was the farewell concert of pianist Abhinath Berry before he leaves to undertake further study in London. The concert, of gigantic pianistic proportions, attracted a very large audience.
Berry chose a programme of major Romantic piano works, all of extreme technical difficulty, and all played from memory. Abhinath’s physical demeanour gave no indication of the demands he was making of himself.
The programme began with Chopin’s Nocturne in C Minor, Op 48 no 1. Here Berry explored all the lyrical tones of the pianoforte from pianissimo to fortissimo.
Schumann’s Kreisleriana, Op 16 consists of eight fantasies, each one professing Schumann’s intense love for his wife, Clara. Berry was able to move seamlessly from protestations of tenderness, to capriciousness (helped here by very deft finger work), to tumultuousness and to simple affection. This was magnificent pianism at its very best.
After the interval Abhinath played Chopin’s Ballade no 2 in F Major, op 38. His ability to move flawlessly from one theme to another, and to perform a highly charged ending was characteristic of this performance.
Ravel’s A lborada del gracioso showed the depth of Berry’s interpretative ability. Through the clarity of his finger work, the sound of the flamenco dance accompanied by the guitar drew us into the world of Spain.
Finally, Liszt’s Rhapsodie Espagnol S.254 allowed Berry to never lose sight of a theme. There are two themes in this piece, and even though they may be hidden in Liszt’s thick chordal structure, Berry always highlighted them. During the playing of this work, the setting sun bathed the pianist in a warm glow. Hopefully this is an omen for future success.
Abhinath Berry takes with him to London the best wishes of Dunedin’s concert-going public. Perhaps when he next returns he will be "the great Abhinath Berry".
