Hailing from Belgium, super-cellist Mischa Maisky came to the Lobero for a long overdue Santa Barbara debut accompanied by pianist daughter Lily with her 11 year old half-brother Maxim as page-turner (who showed he knows a thing or two about music too). Musically, it was a rich and varied evening of Beethoven, Piazzola and Britten, showcasing not only Mischa’s deeply felt and lush playing (he has some mighty bonafides having studied with Rostropovitch and Piatigorsky), but also the tightly knit, simpatico and, especially for the Piazolla, fiery interplay between father and daughter. This was a team effort, and the team happened to all be related.
I have to admit I didn’t recognize Piazolla’s Le Grand Tango until Mischa fired off those trademark rapid glissandos (usually played by a violin), then it all snapped into focus. I guess I was too transfixed by the visuals of their playing.
