INTENSITY, PASSION AND PIEDS NUS
Moldavan musical phenom Patricia Kopatchinskaja eschews footwear when she plays, and it’s hard not to imagine it gives her a heightened sense of freedom and adventure. Recently, there has been ample proof of her supremely focussed and improvisatory genius locally, first during her stint as Musical Director of June’s Ojai Music Fest and then at Hahn Hall ,December 11. The occasion was a UCSB Arts & Lectures’s concert with pianist Polina Leschenko, who proved to be just as forceful, inventive and sensitive – a perfect pairing. Bartok, Poulenc, Enescu and Ravel provided the music, Kopachinskaja provided the magic, going form dead serious to playful to romantic, all the while dancing on those lovely bare feet.
