By Liam Hofmeister, news correspondent
Vicky Chow, a Canadian pianist who is making waves in the contemporary classical style, took the stage at the Fenway Center last Saturday to an audience of 100.
Collaborating with Ronald Bruce Smith, an associate professor of music technology and composition, Chow performed the world premiere of Smith’s “Piano Book” along with other modern compositions being played in Boston for the first time.
“Ron actually commissioned a work for me in 2005 to premiere,” Chow said, explaining how she came to perform at the Northeastern Fenway Center. “Ron contacted me to play this piece, and seeing it had been such a long time, I was excited to return to Boston.”
The audience her performance fell into reverent silence as she walked on stage, cutting short the warm applause. Chow assumed her position before her piano, and played a single, piercing note, beginning her performance
Chow meticulously chose songs for the program that balanced the set list. Each song, though falling into the avant-garde contemporary genre exemplified the creative freedoms the specialists of the style possess.
Chow then moved into a rendition of Christopher Cerrone’s “Hoyt Shermerhorn.”
“Cerrone wrote this song about the G train in New York City. If you’ve ever had to take it, you know it takes forever and is slow, and that inspired him to write this piece,” Chow said.
Reich’s “Piano Counterpoint” came next, an adaption of a piece originally written for six pianos.
“I prerecorded lines written for numerous pianos, and trigger them when I feel ready to move on in the piece,” Chow said, exemplifying her merging of the classical and electronic age.
Both Chow and the audience bobbed in accordance with the song, internalizing the music, until the abrupt end. The crowd unfalteringly erupted in applause.
Moving into Smith’s “Piano Book,” Chow put her hair into a ponytail. No distractions could endanger her performance.
Chow welcomed bassist Trevor Dunn and drummer Ian Ding up on stage to perform John Zorn’s “Trilogy”, a three–movement contemporary jazz piece incorporating a structured piano part laid out by Chow and an improvisation of the bass and percussion.
“When the artist enjoys her work, the audience follows,” Bahareh Safarani, a graduate student studying studio art, said.
Even those who were not familiar with their work appreciated Chow’s talent.
“I didn’t know Chow before this, but it’s good to try new things. As a musician, I really enjoyed the concert,” junior civil engineering major Larry O’Connor said.
The listeners seemed to agree, as Chow left the Fenway Stage to enthusiastic applause from a standing audience.
Photo by William Bryan
