Uplifting, not Deflating

After reading Daniel Cariaga’s review of Evgeny Kissin’s piano recital, we must have been at different venues (“Russian Pianist Kissin Allows Pessimism to Deflate Chopin,” Feb. 11). Nearly everyone I spoke with left in a state of euphoria. A packed house that refused to let him leave the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage with approximately 10 standing ovations would seem to deflate Cariaga’s review.

As a classical pianist intimately conversant with his program, I was impressed with his musicality and composure. Piano virtuoso Radu Lupu, sitting in front of me, was as enthusiastic as the rest of us.

Kissin has at least 40 years of concertizing in front of him. He will rank among the greatest of virtuosos in a class with Horowitz and Rubinstein.

HERBERT D. RESTON, Beverly Hills

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Kissin has not yet reached a musical strength of personality the equal of a Horowitz or Rubinstein--the test of which is in the ability to mesmerize an audience into absolute rapt silence--and to put Kissin in that league is quite premature.

Hats off to Cariaga for calling it like it was--the notes were all there, but Chopin’s elegant style and majestic pathos were still generally missing.

ROSELLA DURAN, North Hollywood