Last Friday, renowned guest pianist Gabriel Chodos provided an engaging musical repertoire in Cochran Chapel.
Chodos, who was visiting from the New England Conservatory in Boston, was delighted to be invited to come back to Andover to perform again. He first visited in the fall of 2011.
Last year, Chodos performed Johannes Brahms’s “Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118” and “Thirty-three Variations on a Waltz” by Ludwig van Beethoven and Anton Diabelli, Op. 120.” These pieces explored a great variety of dynamics and articulations.
This year, Chodos chose to focus more on pieces with one distinct style rather than compositions with many variations and tempos.
The performance began with Wolfgang Mozart’s “Adagio in B Minor, K.540.” Chodos’s focus and concentration on every note he played was evident to the audience.
He then proceeded to play another piece by Mozart, “Rondo in D Major.” The jubilant, quick notes demonstrated variation in Chodos’s repertoire.
Chodos continued with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonata in E major, Op. 109.” The three-part piece varied in speed, ranging from swift, intense melodies to delicate tunes, which provided contrast between each of the parts.
“He plays with an indescribable heartfelt solidness,” said Bryan McGuiggin ’15. “It takes a lot of time for something so lyrical yet intellectual to ferment in your mind. It shows a real maturity. [Mr Chodos] is able to do that so well,” he continued.
The Beethoven piece was a favorite amongst the crowd. “[It is] one of the most genius pieces ever written,” said John William Gibson ’15, who studies the piano.
For the finale of his performance, Chodos played “Sonata in A major, D. 959” by Franz Schubert.
“It seems like [Chodos] started at a simpler place with the Mozart and worked up to more difficult pieces, and the Beethoven piece was just so impressive,” said Susan Matava, a pianist from the town of Andover.
According to Chodos, choosing his repertoire for the night was very difficult.
“They’re all beautiful. I guess, the Schubert piece would be my favorite. These pieces are full of joy, which is why I chose them. But Mozart is the king. I think he lives on a different planet, away from all of us,” said Chodos.
Chodos loves performing at Andover, especially because of the musical environment. “I love the Chapel, and of course, the wonderful piano. It’s [a] beautiful [piano]: Steinway, classic, concert grand. That’s good stuff,” said Chodo.
Chodos will next perform at Boston’s New England Conservatory on November 6.
