By Liz Hammond Contributing writer
The first faculty recital of the semester took place on Jan. 23.
The stage was empty, save for one grand piano, which lecturer in music Ilya Blinov used to open the concert with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonata op. 27 no.1.”
Blinov has performed recitals in the United States, in his native Russia, as well as western Europe.
He was the winner of the 39th Annual Competition in Music Performance, where he played Prokofiev’s “Second Piano Concerto” with the Bowling Green Philharmonia.
In 2008, Blinov won the Concerto Competition at the University of Michigan, and on Jan. 23, the audience of Stretansky Concert Hall had the opportunity to witness his talent.
He opened the night with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonata op. 27 no. 1.”
Blinov said, “The two sonatas op. 27 turned all preconceptions of what a sonata was supposed to be upside- down.”
Blinov produced delicate and hushed notes as well as loud boisterous notes that made people in the audience jump.
He then played Beethoven’s “Sonata op. 27 no. 2.” After the intermission, Blinov performed Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Chaconne from Partita no. 2.”
This piece was originally written for a solo violinist, but there have been several transcriptions of the piece for the piano, including one by Ferruccio Busoni, which is the version Blinov performed.
The deep and introspective beginning alludes to a connection between pain and suffering. In Busoni’s transcription the use of D minor makes it feel deeper and more dramatic.
By the end of the piece Blinov received a standing ovation and had to take another small intermission because the piece was so powerful and exhausting.
Blinov concluded the program with a work by Sergei Prokofiev, “Sonata no. 7 op. 83.” This is one of Prokofiev’s three “war sonatas” that were written during World War II. It follows the traditional structure of the sonata; exposition, developement and a final recpitulation.
The piece was light and humorous as he played the entire range of the keyboard.
He started with “Allegro Inqueto.” This piece slid into the “Andante Caloroso,” which starts slowly and then has a sort of bell-like climax but melts out into the opening theme once more.
The finale is called “Precipitato” and is a demanding piece for pianists.
Blinov received another standing ovation at the conclusion of the concert.
