Wilson Shows Mastery on Difficult Piano Works
January 7, 2008

Terrence Wilson's program Sunday at Father Heim's Xavier Piano Series ranged from the virtuosity of Liszt and Chopin to the intimacy of Robert Schumann. Throughout the program, Wilson demonstrated not only a masterful technique, but also a depth of musical artistry at the keyboard that was nothing short of astounding. The first piece on the program, Maurice Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit," is an impressionistic work upon a large musical canvas, indeed. "Gaspard" was inspired by three poems written by Louis Aloys Bertrand that were published in 1908. "Gaspard" is the devil and the three poems are about stories he tells. "Ondine" describes drops of water on a window pane, soon to become a torrent of notes and a confluence of sounds that ripple up and down the keyboard. "LeGibet," with macabre chords, portrays the howling of a winter wind and the body of a man hanging from the gallows. "Scarbo" reminds one of an apparition with a whirling dervish of notes played by Wilson with elegance and ease. His adroit use of the pedal greatly enhanced this impressionistic tone poem. Chopin's fiendishly difficult "Etude Op.10. No.4, in C# minor" sounds like a dog running after his tail. From beginning to end there is no rest for the pianist from this tour de force. Wilson played this etude and Liszt's "Wilde Jagd" or Wild Hunt Etude with clarity, precision and excitement, but always under control. Rachmaninoff's "Etude tableau Op. 39. No. 5 in Eb minor" stacks up chords and harmonies into a magnificent edifice of sound. Chromaticism abounds here, along with a luminescent melody towering above it all. "Humoresque in Bb major, Op. 20" by Robert Schumann, like all of his larger piano compositions except for the sonatas and the concerto, is composed of a string of smaller pieces that somehow manage to hang together by dint of Schumann's great genius. "Einfach," or simple, is a charming melody played by Wilson with a honey-like tone and tasteful rubato. Sehr rasch und leicht (fast and light) illustrates the great skill required to play fast and softly at the same time. "Einfach und zart" (simple and sweetly) and "Innig" (introspective) are Schumann at his most intimate and subtle. With "Zum Beschluss" (finale), the very literate Schumann is telling us that the story is over. The warmth and soulfulness of this music reaches to and steals the heart of the listener. Wilson's approach is sincere and natural. His considerable technique is always harnessed for artistic ends, without any distracting theatrics and gymnastics at the keyboard. Once again, Father Heim has provided us with a golden afternoon of piano music. Catch the next Xavier concert on Jan. 20 with world-famous pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

- Cincinnati Enquirer


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