NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts music review of Rufus Choi’s Bach to Rach at the Athena Foundation for the Arts spring concert.
Spectacular and moving. Rufus Choi, world-renowned concert pianist, wowed the packed community auditorium in North Hollywood. The standing-room-only audience was treated to the masterful playing of not just one member of the Choi family, but three. The show was billed as Bach to Rach and included works from Johann Sebastian Bach, Edward Elgar, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Rufus Choi is a Korean-American pianist whose self-proclaimed influences, Johann Sebastian Bach and Sergei Rachmaninoff, are evident. Still, the emotion conjured up by the playing of these pieces by Choi not only sets a new standard of virtuosity, but also taps into the emotional investment Choi has made in these pieces. Choi’s superb playing invigorates these truly timeless masterpieces.
The first two Bach pieces; the Largo from Organ Sonata in C Major (arranged by the Russian composer and pianist, Samuil Feinberg) and the second, Choral Preludes (transposed by Italian composer, Ferrucio Busoni), which were originally written for organ, were played by such gusto and virtuosity and, at the same time with such deep, penetrating emotion, that it left the audience breathless.
The next piece was the Romance Opus 1 by Edward Elgar. When Rufus Choi walked back onstage after a brief break, he was joined by award-winning violinist Micah Choi. Micah happens to be Rufus Choi’s 14-year-old son, and not only is he a brilliant violinist, but the harmony between piano and violin, and between father and son, was a match made in heaven.
The first half of the program was finished off by Bach’s Chaconne in D Minor (once again transposed by Ferrucio Busoni) and was played by these incredible musicians with elegance and gentleness.
Rufus Choi Bach to Rach Ends with an Emotional Standing Ovation
The second half of the program began with another surprise guest, Noah Choi, a second-generation award-winning cellist in his own right. In this collaboration, Rufus and Noah Choi performed, Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 7 Variations on ‘Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen’, WoO 46. This beautiful piece was played with such warmth and precision that the audience, including myself, was swept away by the emotional performances. The last piece, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Sonata No. 2, Op. 36, was the perfect way to complete such a beautiful program. A very special mention must be made of all the gorgeous choice of art that accompanied the music. A match made in heaven.
The result of the pairing of brilliantly written and expertly played pieces from these masters was an amazing experience for everyone, audience and performer alike. The crowning moment, it must be said, is when the younger Chois (Micah and Noah) took the stage with their father. The audience gave an emotional standing ovation and there was not a dry eye in the house. Bravo!
Don’t miss a concert from North Hollywood’s The Athena Foundation of the Arts!
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