Star-Telegram: Powerful Cliburn performances Friday

June 9, 2017

Star-Telegram

Review: Powerful Cliburn performances Friday keep audiences guessing
By Olin Chism

This was a powerful group of pianists, each of whom made a powerful impression. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, with jury chairman Leonard Slatkin conducting, made a strong contribution to the evening’s excitement.

One of the participants, Yekwon Sunwoo of South Korea, played Rachmaninoff’s ever-popular Piano Concerto No. 3 and earned the loudest ovation from an audience that filled Bass Hall.

While the performance was underway, Muhammad Ali’s famous quote “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” came to my mind. This was because Sunwoo employed a very wide range of dynamics, from the softest soft to the loudest loud, in his interpretation. His performance became more effective as it went on, and the finale raised goose bumps.

Source: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/special-reports/van-cliburn/article155462264.html#storylink=cpy