A truly great performer – Jayson Gillham at Melbourne Recital Centre

Melbourne Recital Centre Great Performers 2022  – Jayson Gillham – Bach & Chopin

Live streamed on Australian Digital Concert Hall, Monday 6 June 2022 7.30pm

We can claim concert pianist Jayson Gilham as our own even though the Queenslander is now based in London where I hope I can catch up with him when I visit shortly. My appetite was greatly stimulated by listening to his recent Melbourne recital broadcast on Australian Digital Concert Hall.

Featured were two of his favourite composers namely Bach and Chopin.

The well-known Cantata “Sheep may safely graze” and Partita No 1 BWV 825 formed a backdrop for the astounding Busoni transcription of Violin Partita no 2 which could be described as “Bach on Steroids”. This piece really suited Jayson’s style and he handled the difficult passages impeccably.

He made the Chopin Waltzes op 34 sound jaunty and appealing particularly the third with its unusual staccato introduction but it was in the A flat Polonaise “Heroic” that he really hit his straps and I have never heard a better interpretation.

My thanks to ADCH for being able to hear this excellent concert.

For more concerts in the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Great Performers series for 2022 see:

Melbourne Recital Hall – Great Performers

Australian Digital Concert Hall