MagnusSvensson

Press

• Nina Stemme and Magnus Svensson Recital

  Zellerbach Hall

  May 2023

  • Full of flourishes on the piano, trills, elaborate arpeggios, and multitudinous decoration, the plaintive ballad-style piece received an entirely distinctive treatment by Liszt as performed by Svensson. Here there was virtuosity and melody with the cross-handed repetitions and strong forte decoration coupled with pianissimi trills, that altered the touching work and located it in the realm of Liszt’s performative hot-house. Svensson adorned the piece in this spirit, by sometimes raising and sometimes blurring the extravagant romanticism; a fascinating excursion. Stemme and Svensson gave us one encore, “My Ship,” a Broadway tune from “Lady in the Dark,” and in English, leaving us with a bravado sound and spirit that left no doubts about their extraordinary gifts.

    • Lois Silverstein, Opera Wire
    • 19 May 2023