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2000 Barbara Nissman Concert Reviews

 

Symphony Guest Pianist a Classical Showstopper 

Two pianos, one pianist and a riveting concert. Guest artist Barbara Nissman performed the Rachmaninoff Paganini Variations and Mozart's 23rd Concerto with a power and clarity that brought a standing ovation from the Peoria audience Saturday night. If a classical pianist can be said to 'wow' them, she did.

The Journal Star, Peoria, IL. 12/11/00

 

 

Shreveport Symphony / Gershwin Concerto in F

Pianist Nissman did a bravura job of interpreting the piece and bringing forth that sensuous, jazz piano feeling that permeates it.  

The Shreveport Times, LA. 11/19/00

 

 

West Virginia Symphony / Brahms Concerto No. 2

Saturday night she played Brahms' Second Concerto as if she had tossed kerosene on the keyboard and struck a match. ...Nissman was sensational.

The Charleston Gazette, WV 10/9/00

 

 

I was attracted to Nissman's artistry through her recording of Prokofiev's complete piano sonatas, long before I was aware that she now resides in Lewisburg. She delivered a thrilling reading of the Brahms' Second Piano Concerto. ...in the third movement sublime poetry was created. She melded the lovely pianistic feelings of this work so securely with the orchestra that they seemed to breathe as one.

Charleston Daily Mail, WV 10/9/00

 

 

Orchestra's 40th Season Opening / Bartok Piano Concerto No. 3

The highlight of the concert was Bela Bartok's Concerto No. 3. Nissman from the beginning displayed a virtuosity which made her clearly the master of all difficulties included in Bartok's keyboard writing, as she executed with apparent ease the technically demanding passages of the allegro third movement as well as the beautifully melodic,restrained phrases of the adagio second movement.... Both soloist and orchestra richly deserved the enthusiastic standing ovation which they received. 

Asheville Citizen Times, NC 9/18/00

 

 

Pianist Barbara Nissman Delivers

Miraculous. Two hours of nearly impossible music performed effortlessly. ...She brought off extremely dissonant sonorities with such clarity and beauty that one became lost and forgot that an actual human being was sitting at the keyboard creating these sounds.

The Fresno Bee, CA. 3/4/00

 

 

Reigning Lady of the Keyboard / Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 4

This extraordinary concert by Symphony of Bilbao featured the distinguished pianist Barbara Nissman and the chance to discover Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 4. The work shows his personal signature, introverted but brilliant-its lyrical melodies progressing to animated accelerandos-which the lady of the keyboard and the orchestra delivered expressively. Barbara was effective and played with conviction the delicate passages with the violas, the intricate writing with the cellos, and the passionate finale without ever compromising authority, grace, and technical perfection.  

El Correo, Bilbao, Spain 2/8/00

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