Croatian Rhapsody: Maksim Mrvica Australian Tour 2018
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Date Reviewed: 27/09/2018
by Irena Begelfor
Maksim Mrvica walks onto the stage like a meteorite. A myriad of notes fill The Palais Theatre, each note perfectly positioned in sequence to the next. Power and grace are words that come to mind as I watch him play.
The concert starts with a roaring, technically complex piece, Nostradamus. Almost in one breath, Mrvica moves to the accelerated rendition of Flight of the Bumblebee. He fuses classical and modern genres, adds electronics, techno sounds and creates unique, modern music. His interpretation of Gymnopedie, a piece with so few notes, gives us time to take a breath. His phrasing in this piece is sublime. And then he plays something that is pure classic - one of Liszt's most complex piece - Ballade in B Minor.
Not only does Mrvica play by memory, he plays with his eyes closed a lot of the time as though he feels where the keys are. He plays timeless music like Godfather and he does so in a particular, Mrvica style.
His wild rendition of 'Mission Impossible' leaves me on the edge of my seat, motionless. Sounds are firing and rolling out of the piano. I watch his hands and my eyes cannot keep up. I can no longer see how his fingers touch the keys. My focus keeps moving from his hands to his face and back again. Maksim is in a musical reverie. His face expresses what his fingers say.
Watching Maksim on Youtube is great. However, it is far more fulfilling to watch him live. Treat yourself and watch this enigmatic pianist enchant you.
Adelaide Town Hall - 23 Sept
Brisbane City Hall - 26 Sept
Melbourne Palais - 27 Sept
Perth Concert Hall - 28 Sept
Sydney Opera House - 30 Sept