Dang Thai Son

Concert Review: Dang Thai Son

Jan 21, 2024, Shenzhen Concert Hall

Dang Thai Son Rectial

Faure-Debussy-Chopin

Fou Ts'ong: "...Very Few People truly understand the language of Chopin - Dang Thai Son is one of them..."

From the first time over 20 years ago that I heard Dang Thai Son in Hong Kong, I have become his fan. The last time I heard him was in 2018, chronicled in this blog (here). This time the program is even better!

Concert opened with Faure's Nocturne in e-flat minor, Op33/1. The kaleidoscopic sonorities displayed is a lesson for his student Bruce Liu, who in comparison greatly lacks coloristic nuances (heard recently here). The murmuring and undulations were just gorgeous. Then followed the Bacarolle. Then Debussy Two Arabesques, just slightly angular, and Five pieces from Images I&II: Reflets dans l'eau, Hommage a Rameau, Mouvement, Cloches a travers les feuilles, Poissons d'or. All immaculately colored and sustained. Certainly not as "misty" as some play it, even masculine!

Second half was all Chopin. First Three Waltzes, Op 70/2, Op Posth, Op34/1, the last of which feeling like harbinger of the Polonaise to come. Then a less played Eccossaise, Op 72/3. Then Four Mazurkas, Op24, somewhat severe. Then the Tarantella Op 43. Concert concluded with the well known Polonaise in A-Flat, Op 53. 

Dang's Chopin style, like all his playing, is about refinement. Passion is to be found in the way notes are played and colored, not to the fore. But this is great piano playing!

Encores were a Chopin Waltz and Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk, the humor of which brought down the house. It was an all sold out concert! The venue manager told me tickets sold on on the first day!