Sonatas 2, 4 and 3 - Horatiu Radulescu
Horatiu Radulescu is a distinctive figure in contemporary music. Born in Romania in 1942, but resident in France and Germany since 1969, he tends to be known by reputation more than by experience. An all-Radulescu piano recital is therefore welcome, even though nearly one hour of his very specific approach to piano composition proved as much as one could take in a continuous dose.
In the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre at lunchtime last Thursday Ortwin Sturmer played three Radulescu sonatas as part of the bank's Mostly Modern series. All were written for or dedicated to Sturmer, whose playing brimmed with the persuasive power one would hope for from those circumstances.
Radulescu has always been inspired by mystical concepts. Sonatas 2, 4 and 3 (played in that order) are prefaced by quotations from Lao Tzu; some of the material is derived from folk music and the movements have suggestive titles - Immanence; Abyssal Dance.
The music's unrelenting seriousness made this a somewhat formidable encounter. But it was thoroughly worthwhile.
Vox21 and Armada Theatre Company will be at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre at 1.15 p.m. on February 24th. Admission is free. Call (01) 8216620 for details.
