Balakirev / Alkan - Piano Works

Facts One notable aspect of the concert was the appearance on the podium of each composer in turn to conduct his own work: Messrs Cemal Resit Rey, Ulvi Cemal Erkin and Ahmet Adnan Saygun all took the helm with great aplomb … The pianist, Miss Idil Biret, barely 17 years old, proved herself to be a musician of remarkable personality, performing Adnan Saygun’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with great poise, lyrical eloquence and impressive technical mastery. The concerto itself is an attractive and imposing piece, with its clearly etched character, dramatic accents and originality of musical idiom. This powerful, tumultuous work-in which the piano is by no means treated with kid gloves, but rather pitted against the orchestra-deserves to become widely known. Miss Biret received a warm and enthusiastic ovation.