Polish Pianist Hania Rani Weaves Enchanting Sounds at Barbican Hall
In an evening where music seemed to reverberate through every fibre of being, Polish pianist and composer Hania Rani crafted two captivating performances that defied traditional boundaries. The Manchester Collective delivered stylishly executed premieres in the classical genre, impressing a lively audience predominantly composed of younger fans.
Shining, the first half of the concert, was an atmospheric work inspired by Jon Fosse's short story about a man lost in the woods at night. Its stream-of-consciousness narrative unfolded with sinister discords on bass clarinet and bassoon, gradually shifting to evoke images of ghost stories told around campfires at midnight. Motoric rhythms kicked in later, with instruments ebbing in and out of visibility like waves crashing against an unseen shore. Each rhythmic shift heightened the senses, leaving listeners mesmerized by the performance.
Non-Fiction, Rani's five-year-in-the-making piano concerto, was a poignant tribute to human resilience in the face of oppression. Drawing inspiration from Josima Feldschuh's sketchbooks, which detail her experiences as a young pianist forced into the Warsaw ghetto during WWII, the composition frequently veered into ethereal territories and occasionally touched on sombre notes before incorporating aleatoric passages.
While Non-Fiction showcased Rani's artistic prowess, its realization was marred by balance issues. The piano seemed overpowered by the lush orchestration, which, in turn, detracted from the concerto's full narrative potential. Nevertheless, when it worked, this beautiful music possessed a profound depth that left an indelible mark on all who listened.
In an evening where music seemed to reverberate through every fibre of being, Polish pianist and composer Hania Rani crafted two captivating performances that defied traditional boundaries. The Manchester Collective delivered stylishly executed premieres in the classical genre, impressing a lively audience predominantly composed of younger fans.
Shining, the first half of the concert, was an atmospheric work inspired by Jon Fosse's short story about a man lost in the woods at night. Its stream-of-consciousness narrative unfolded with sinister discords on bass clarinet and bassoon, gradually shifting to evoke images of ghost stories told around campfires at midnight. Motoric rhythms kicked in later, with instruments ebbing in and out of visibility like waves crashing against an unseen shore. Each rhythmic shift heightened the senses, leaving listeners mesmerized by the performance.
Non-Fiction, Rani's five-year-in-the-making piano concerto, was a poignant tribute to human resilience in the face of oppression. Drawing inspiration from Josima Feldschuh's sketchbooks, which detail her experiences as a young pianist forced into the Warsaw ghetto during WWII, the composition frequently veered into ethereal territories and occasionally touched on sombre notes before incorporating aleatoric passages.
While Non-Fiction showcased Rani's artistic prowess, its realization was marred by balance issues. The piano seemed overpowered by the lush orchestration, which, in turn, detracted from the concerto's full narrative potential. Nevertheless, when it worked, this beautiful music possessed a profound depth that left an indelible mark on all who listened.
. I mean, the atmosphere thingy in her first piece was kinda meh, just another bunch of random sounds to my ears 
. And don't even get me started on Non-Fiction - that piano concerto felt like it dragged on forever and was way too sappy with all the emotional nonsense about oppression 
. I mean, who needs all that depth and complexity when you can just stick to some catchy melodies? The orchestration thing was also a total snooze fest 
. And balance issues? Pfft, that's just an excuse for Rani not being able to work her magic 
.
she literally wove these enchanting sounds together like magic 
i mean, her music is so evocative it's like you can actually imagine the guy in Jon Fosse's story wandering through those woods, right? and don't even get me started on Non-Fiction - it's like this beautiful, poignant tribute to human resilience that just left me feeling all the feels 
I know the orchestra got a bit lost in terms of balance but honestly who cares when she's playing that piano like her life depends on it?!?! i swear, every time i listen to that music i feel like i'm witnessing something truly special 
. balance issues or not, that concerto still gave me chills 
I mean, can we talk about the atmosphere of the entire concert? it was like a journey through these dark woods and back again... seriously, I need to see this performance live ASAP 
the way they brought out those atmospheric vibes in the first half of the concert had me completely entranced! I mean, who knew classical music could be so cool 
. What do you think happens when an orchestra gets too big for its britches?
and btw, the crowd was SO diverse and young it was amazing to see everyone vibing together 
️, and Non-Fiction's message about resilience is so powerful 
. My only critique would be that the piano seemed to get lost at times with all those other instruments 
.
I mean, have you heard her play? It's like she's speaking directly to your soul 
The way she wove those sounds together was pure magic 
but that's just part of its charm, right? 
her music is so emotive and haunting, it's like it's speaking straight to your soul 
. I love how she drew inspiration from Josima Feldschuh's experiences during WWII - it adds such depth to the music, you can really feel the emotion pouring out of every note 
And yeah, I know some people said Non-Fiction had balance issues but I think that's what made it so impactful - it was like she was trying to convey this powerful message and emotion through music