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Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
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This Tchaikovsky First Concerto by Sergio Tiempo and Alondra de la Parra happens to be very recent, earlier in 2015. Sergio Tiempo seems to have matured greatly since I last heard him.... His articulation and phrasing, which was once totally non-existent, has vastly improved.... His playing is now tolerable.... In spite of still having too much "showman" in his demeanor.
Tiempo was also very erratic in this live performance.... As if it may have been "under-rehearsed". There were a couple whoppers mid-late in the 1st movement. (During the second movement, I also noticed the piano itself was a little out-of-tune.)
Alondra de la Parra brings out a solid, responsive accompaniment for Tiempo..... Some of the passages were a little "loud" for my liking, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra horns sounded a little "raw" at the opening, but things settled down. The orchestra itself didn't quite have the "refinement" of the best American or European bands. The intonation wasn't exactly stellar either. But conductor Alondra de la Parra kept a cohesiveness between the soloist and orchestra, not an easy feat with the Tchaik Concerto One. (There were some "timing" issues in the third movement. A common problem, but a little more pronounced than usual. The "syncopative" effect was lost.) She also had no problem keeping tight ensemble during the explosive passages, something I cannot say about some other performances as well.
This was not a bad performance. I've heard much, much, worse. (The criticisms notwithstanding.) This performance tells me that Sergio Tiempo, a pianist that I have never been a fan of, has a chance of becoming a true star, if his maturation were to continue.
  
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