Pianist Ingmar Lazar. Pieces by CésarFranck - CD Review, the 29th of November 2023

In 1835, the young composer César Franck had his first concert as a pianist, in Liege, his hometown. During that period of time, he was still a student at The Royal School of Music, and after he finished his studies, he left for Paris with his father in order to improve with the help of Anton Reicha, Pierre-Guillaume Zimmerman and Hippolyte Colet. Back then, at only 13 years old, he composed Sonata op. 10 for piano, which still resembles the classical period and which was influenced by the great composers of that time.Later, after he graduated from the Paris Conservatory in 1842, at his father suggestion, César Franck left the classical style and instead looked up to some romantic composers such as Franz Liszt, Frederic Chopin or Johann Nepomuk Hummel. After this, his pieces for piano became even more popular. However, at least at an academic level, the pieces from César Franck's adolescence are equally interesting, for instance Sonata Op. 10, composed in 1835 and dedicated to his brother, Joseph Franck, a sheet music which was never published.Recently, the piece was put for the very first time on a record, performed by the French pianist Ingmar Lazar. The first part, Larghetto - Allegro moderato, has two sections which contrast each other, the first one opened by a dramatic instruction which leads to a more optimistic and casual one. The second part, Adagio Andante moderator is more on the gloomy and pensiveside, and the last part resembles the Mozartian spirit through the softness of the melodic lines and the vivacious rhythm. If the first two parts performed by the pianist Ingmar Lazar gives us the image of a sensitive and passionate performer through sound, in the end he impresses through his agility and his remarkable pianistic technique.

Born on the 22^nd of June 1993 in France, from Romanian parents, the pianist Ingmar Lazar is a great Romanian speaker and he performed a few recitals and concerts in our country, also being accompanied by the Radio Chamber Orchestra in 2009. Also, the artistic direct of the "Bruit qui Pense" and "Escapades Pianistiques" festivals in France, Ingmar Lazar studied in Paris, Geneva, Hanover, Lugano and Salzburg.Described by international critics as a pianist with a magnetic stage presence, profound performer and a splendid technique, the musician improved on important stages from Europe, such as Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Rudolfinum in Prague, Radio Hall and the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, these being a few of the many halls he has performed in. He is also a very passionate performer of chamber music and he collaborated with many well-known artists such as Pierre Amoyal, Nicolas Dautricourt, Francois Salque and Jean-Claude Pennetier.

Until now, Ingmar Lazar has released chamber music records and three solo albums, the first one in 2017 with pieces by Franz Schubert. The second one comprised pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, and this year, the pianist recorded an album dedicated to César Franck. It includes a Prelude, coral, fugue, a well-known sheet music written in 1884, which shows César Franck's profound religious belief and Johann Sebastian Bach's influence as far as the contrapuntal shapes and transformations are concerned, making it a piece which stands out thanks to its emotional charge. The expressivity of the piece is emphasized in the pianist Ingmar Lazar's performance.