Music Review : Georgian, Krainev Share Pavilion Recital Program

The concert at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion had an intriguing subtext. Both performers, cellist Karine Georgian and pianist Vladimir Krainev, were Soviet citizens, though Georgian now lives in London. Both performers had won the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition as soloists. And both performers used to be married--to each other.

Given the circumstances, it seemed entirely appropriate that each performed separately before collaborating for the finale Monday night. Given the stature of the players, it was not surprising that the main interest was purely musical.

The closer was the Sonata for Cello and Piano, Opus 19, by Rachmaninoff, in a leisurely and graceful performance. Georgian gave the melodies smooth, unforced expression, her dark, glowing tone imparting an untroubled mood. Passionate statement was not her main concern; beautiful tone production, easy flow and elegant expression were.

Krainev readily subdued the busy piano accompaniment, yet nevertheless played avidly in back-up, giving crisp rhythmic underpinning and flowering warmly in his solo turns. They repeated the serene Andante as an encore.

On his own Krainev played the Sonata No. 7, Opus 83, by Prokofiev. He brought brisk rhythmic clarity and curt accent to the combative allegros, and a dreamy, opaque hush to the craggy lyricism. The cumulative impact of the Precipitato was furthered by Krainev’s sober, steady tempo and consistent stamp on the repeated bass motive. The culmination was massive, brutal and thrilling.

Georgian opened the program with an unhurried, discursive, kaleidescopically colored, strikingly virtuosic performance of Zoltan Kodaly’s Solo Cello Sonata.