Spotlight on the Richardson Auditorium
The next evening, Grosvenor took the stage at the sold-out Richardson Auditorium. His playing was like quicksilver, flowing seamlessly through tender and turbulent passages. The twists and turns between these contrasting emotions reverberated through the space, showcasing his seasoned poise from a remarkable career while still brimming with a refreshing passion that lasted throughout the two-hour concert.Musical Progression and Selections
Grosvenor's piano skills advanced rapidly after winning the BBC Young Musician Competition keyboard final in 2004. This prestigious competition opened doors for him, and in 2011, he signed with Decca Classics, becoming the youngest British musician to do so. Since then, his piano performance career has been decorated. When asked about the program for this Princeton performance and his piece selections, he shared, "I've wanted to learn 'Pictures at an Exhibition' [by Mussorgsky] for a long time. When you have a new piece, you try to pair it with well-known works. Like the Schumann and Brahms go together. The Schumann Fantasie is an amazing piece with a unique structure and intense emotion. And the Brahms provides a nice contrast as late Brahms has a certain static quality. In the second half, it's nice to expand the texture, making the climaxes bigger and adding more colors."He further explained the contrast between the first and second half of the program. "The Fantasie is a complex piece that's not easy to understand at first as its form is unpredictable. But 'Pictures' is incredibly easy to follow as it's centered around the titles. It gives the audience a clear path through the music."
Post-Pandemic Reflections and Influences
Since his last visit to Princeton in 2017, the world has seen a pandemic. Everything came to a standstill, and he had to perform in strange streaming settings. Playing to an empty hall while knowing people were listening was a unique experience he didn't want to repeat. When asked about being inspired by historical recordings, he emphasized, "If you listen widely to different recordings of a piece like the Schumann Fantasie, you avoid getting tainted by a particular quality. It's important to listen to many interpretations to understand the piece's many personalities."He also reflected on how his approach to preparing for performances has changed over the years. "When I was young, things came naturally. But as you get older, you need to be more conscious as you don't absorb music as easily. Now, I practice more thoughtfully."
Chopin's Allure and Favorite Memories
Grosvenor has recorded several albums of Chopin's music. Asked what draws him to Chopin's compositions, he said, "His music lit my flame for music. The first Chopin piece I played was a waltz, and the quicksilver nature and the way the emotion changes within a few bars appealed to me. It was like a conversation. His melodies are tailored to the decay, and he has a unique harmonic language and incredible gift of melody."When asked about his favorite memory of a performance, he shared, "The first time I played at the BBC Proms in London was a big event. The first exposure to the atmosphere was special. But over the years, I find working with other musicians and building something together more memorable. Special things happen when you share these moments."
He also described his unique quality as a pianist. "The joy of piano playing for me is drawing a range of sounds, finding the colors in music. It's exploring all the subtleties and new sounds, from the quietest to the loudest. I hope people think of me as a colorful pianist."
Chloe Lau is a staff Prospect writer and a staff Features writer for the 'Prince.' She can be reached at chloelau@princeton.edu.