When not playing pool

 

I've heard and recorded Charles Huang several times but this one seemed special.  It's obviously the program wot done it.  Two Beethoven piano sonatas, apparently historically before and after a point of development by Beethoven.  And between these, three consecutively numbered JS Bach Preludes and fugues, BWV863, 864,865.  Suffice to say about the Bach that I love fugues and his immensely effective and complex  counterpoint so these were fabulous to hear.  I love the jigsaw puzzle of a fugue in any context, not least in Bach.  Not sure I made the distinction for the Beethoven piano sonatas, that may take another listen, but I enjoyed them both.  As for Charles, he played all from memory with immense dynamics and commitment and skills.  I didn't play like this in my mid-teens and still don't.  Very impressive, dynamic, expressive, skillful.  I just wondered how some more difficult passages sat together, but this is understandable given the practice required for individual parts.  So another stunning piano concert and a great program from Charles.  And then later I heard of his playing in a national pool competition.  Pool?  Somewhat another skill.  Talented guy.

Charles Huang performed Bach and Beethoven at Wesley.