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Tuesday Night Season. 18th of October 2016
Abel Corban had a numerous audience, proved maturity, colour, expression and capacity of construction in a program that contained Alegro barbaro, Suite op.14 and Rhapsody op.1 by Bela Bratok and a selection of Suite op.18, no.3 by George Enescu. With this program, Abel Corban made an exciting evening, a "tribute" as he declares: "I have tried through this recital to pay tribute for the two composers. This year is an anniversary year - we celebrate 135 years from their birth - and I am involved in an underway project. I come from Paris, now at Bucharest and there will be many other recitals around the country. I try to play what it is not very often approached, unfortunately. It is hard to begin with Alegro barbaro because it is the debut of the recital and it is a strong song. Otherwise, I have tried to feel as good as I could on every song and to feel the music. Both composers have an extraordinary creation and, unfortunately, it is not exploited as it should be. I think I owe what I do to my master, Vinciu Moroianu, who inspired me - to approach everything I can, every composer, including those with contemporary music, especially in the anniversary years, as well as songs that are not played as much as they should be."
Abel Corban is the only Romanian pianist who won the "Bela Bartok" Prize at the Liszt-Bartok International Piano Contest of Sofia, in 2015. On 18th October 2016, he returned for the fourth time at Tuesday Night Season, proving once again he is an intelligent, mature musician, with diverse colouring and with a great pleasure to sing.
Translated by Emilia Mărculescu
MTTLC, 2nd year, University of Bucharest