Alexander Gavrylyuk

‘FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS’ the title inspired by the apt comments of a Gramophone critic, reviewing Alexander Gavrylyuk. What a formidable talent he is: from the sheer firmness and weight of his tone to the cleanness of his articulation, to his range of pianistic colour, to his poetic sensibility and intelligence. One might also go on for a long time talking about his prodigious virtuoso skill, but it was more the natural passion of his playing and his complete concentration and involvement in the music that struck me most forcibly when I saw his Wigmore Hall debut just under a year ago. While some pianists seem separate from their instrument, Alexander seems literally fused to the piano --a truly intense love relationship.