Alexander Kanchik
01*
faiN E ntertainment
It's Mostly Mozart
For Pianist Peter Frank!
ALEX SUCZEK SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
es a calmness accompanied by a
lifetime of moving experi- tok, whom he treasures as part little anxiety." Some pianists in-
of
his
Hungarian
heritage.
But
ences and close musical as-
sist on embellishing the sus-
sociations will enrich the he is equally authoritative re- tained notes. Even Mozart may
garding
Mozart
concerti,
two
of
performance this weekend
have done this in some of his
by pianist Peter Frankl and the which he has already performed music but, Frankl insists, "I find
with
James
DePriest,
who
is
Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
this one comes out more beauti-
Despite Frankl's precarious guest-conducting Frankl's con- fully on its own."
cert
here
in
Detroit.
childhood in Nazi- and then So-
As for working with conduc-
Not surprisingly, Frankl has
viet-occupied Budapest, warm
tor James DePriest, Frankl is
a
special
love
for
Mozart's
com-
friendships with other great mu-
emphatic that it is a very special
sicians and worldwide recogni- positions. The piano concerti, he collaboration which he has en-
feels,
"are
Mozart's
most
impor-
tion have made Frankl's life a
tant instrumental works. Only joyed with DePriest before.
charmed one in many ways.
"We both are flexible for the
the operas top them. But so
Skirting tragedy
early on has surely
helped him develop,
the insight and sensi-
tivity that contribute
greatly to his art. He
recalls without bitter-
ness losing his father
to starvation in a la-
bor camp and then his
own reprieve. First,
the heroic Raoul Wal-
lenberg delayed fur-
ther deportation of
Hungarian Jews.
Then, the Soviet army
arrived to end Nazi
persecution and en-
force new hardships.
Meanwhile, the
young Peter's musical
talent demanded ex-
pression. It found en-
couragement and
guidance from a large
cadre of fine Jewish
artists who, not free to
travel, filled Bu-
dapest's halls and Pianist Peter Frankl crafted his musical talents by learning from a group of Jewish artists who
were not free to travel from Budapest.
opera house with mu-
sic.
"I had little religious training much of his instrumental music give and take because the or-
in those years," Frankl recalls, is filled with emotion and dra- chestra part, especially in
"because the Soviets forbade it. ma, it's operatic in feeling, too." Mozart and Beethoven concerti,
But I was provided with a bar That certainly applies to the Pi- must be an equal force as in
mitzvah and lots of musical guid- ano Concerto in A Major, K 488 chamber music, not just an ac-
ance which was proudly accept- that Frankl will perform with companiment."
The performance this weekend
ed."
DePriest and the DSO tonight
Memories of those times and tomorrow.
will open with Faure's Pelleas et
welled up recently when Frankl
"The two outer movements Melisande Suite, followed by the
performed a concert in Bu- are some of the sunniest music Mozart piece, and close with Dvo-
dapest's newly restored Dohany he ever composed," says Frankl. rak's Symphony No. 8. ❑
Street Synagogue. "It is ab- "They are in the key of A major,
solutely splendid," he glows.
the same key Mozart used for
Peter Frankl will perform
Frankl's innate talent, expo- love arias in such operas as Ab-
with the DSO 8 p.m. Friday,
sure to good examples and con- duction from the Seraglio and
Sept. 27, preceded by a pre-con-
stant ambition took their time Cosi fan Tutte. So the mood of
cert conversation at 7 p.m. with
to bear fruit. Then in the late . love is there.
Frankl and guest conductor
'50s, his career took off, and he
"The slow movement is in F
James DePriest that will be
has been a distinguished artist sharp minor, and it is very sad.
moderated by DSOH executive
on the world stage ever since.
But this adagio is very special,
director Mark Volpe. He will
His tours of five continents and I am against the fashion of
perform 8:30 p.m. Saturday,
have included two previous ap- embellishing the coda."
Sept. 28. Tickets range from
pearances with the DSO. One
Frankl is referring to a haunt-
$16-$40; $58 for box seats. Tick-
was to perform a Bartok piano ing melody at the end of the slow
ets are available only at the Or-
concerto with conductor Rafael movement. There is a syncopat-
chestra Hall box office. Call
Fruebeck de Burgos.-Frankl is ed orchestral part, "throbbing
(313) 833-3700.
an acknowledged expert on Bar- like a heartbeat, that express-
5 5 I 4 • 6 6 •
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