Bronfman Puts Energy on the Keys

(first published in The Cincinnati Post Feb. 8, 1992)

Friday's Cincinnati Symphony concert at Music Hall opened with the aptly- named "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" by American composer John Adams.

It was a pulsating, exhilarating trip that had one feeling "Stop, I want to get off," before it roared to a halt.

But the excitement didn't stop there. It was back into the seat belt when pianist Yefim Bronfman came on for Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3.

Bronfman is a powerhouse pianist. He played with volcanic energy, loosing a swath of sound that often left the audience breathless.

His commmand of the piano's tonal resources is daunting. One could almost feel the vibrations as he reached deep into the keys to draw out a rich, full- blooded tone.

Bronfman's high-voltage performance was manifested visually as well as aurally. He played with such force during the final, percussive bars that it shot him and the piano bench some two feet across the stage.

A more Olympian work, Brahms' First Symphony, filled the second half. Principal guest conductor Ivan Fischer took the high road here, seeking a heightened classicism that was both comfortable and fitting.

Fischer let the music speak for itself, with no histrionics or dramatics to disturb the flow. And it spoke well through the CSO players despite an occasional ruffle in the ensemble.

Principal hornist Robin Graham was resplendent in the finale, soaring above the orchestra with spine-tingling effect.

There were splendid performances also from principal flutist Randolph Bowman and, in his second-movement solo, concertmaster Phillip Ruder.

Concert review - CINCINNATI SYMPHONY. Friday morning, Music Hall. Ivan Fischer, conductor. Yefim Bronfman, piano. PROGRAM: John Adams, "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" (CSO premiere). Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3. Brahms, Symphony No. 1. Attendance: 1,647. Repeat: Tonight, 8:30, Music Hall.