Fill-in pianist proves to be a Rach star
January 10, 2009

In classical music, the audience is drawn to a concert more by the repertoire on the program than who is playing it.

That was in evidence at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra concert Thursday when a little-known pianist stepped in to sub for guest soloist Fabio Bidini, who was felled by the flu and had to bow out earlier this week.

There were 1,350 in the audience to see New York native Terrence Wilson make his hastily arranged TSO debut playing Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto. Those folks packing the orchestra and spilling into the balcony were not there necessarily to see Wilson or the man he replaced; they wanted to hear the Rach 3, as it is fondly called.

The fortune for us was that Wilson is a superb pianist who plays the Rach 3 with a technical proficiency, warmth, energy and pizazz that cries out "calling card." It was apparent after Thursday's performance — which earned him a full-house, on-your-feet-before-the-final-note-dissipated, prolonged standing ovation — that Wilson has a deep affection for the piece, which he played with the Eugene (Ore.) Symphony in September and in mid-December in Europe. It would not be surprising if the 33-year-old became the go-to man for Rachmaninoff....

- Cathalena E. Burch, Arizona Daily Star

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