Milan Recital Review

Corriere della Sera

APRIL 20, 2022

Micah McLaurin and Ludovica Rana for the Società dei Concerti

  Chopin was the focus of a program heard yesterday evening in the concert organized by the foundation La Società dei Concerti. The US pianist, Micah McLaurin, a twenty-seven year old from Charleston, and the cellist, Ludovica Rana from Puglia, were the last in the official line-up, performing three pieces by Poland's genius. In the first part of the evening the eccentric McLaurin played solo, introducing his performance with the Prelude in C-Sharp Minor Op. 45, then followed this up with the weighty Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat Minor Op. 35. McLaurin – an artist also committed the world of pop and with a significant presence on social media, despite his solid classical training – showed strong individuality in his interpretation of Chopin’s masterwork, giving us a performance that was both self-assured and full of expressive clarity. He then performed the well-known Sonata Op. 35, finding a confident and expressive style, while giving a successful balance and the right degree of individuality to the four movements. The most captivating point was probably the third, slow movement, the well-known Funeral March. McLaurin concentrated on developing the dynamic range of the section’s most expressive and intense moments, with superb crescendos; and concluding with a crystal-clear rendition of the Finale Presto, the most 'modern' moment in Chopin's piece. After a short interval, the rarely heard Sonata in G Minor Op. 65 for cello and pianoforte found Ludovica Rana in excellent form, with the piano part played by McLaurin. McLaurin changed his on-stage costume for the occasion. The captivating conversational style of this piece, which Chopin composed in 1845-46 and which was dedicated to his cellist friend Auguste Franchomme, includes an extensive melodic component, which was sustained well by the cellist, who showed expressiveness and excellent workmanship in her performance of all four movements. The applause from the large audience present in the Sala Verdi was enthusiastic, with three encores: first an intense Bach piece from a suite for solo cello, nicely interpreted by Rana, then the piano solo by McLaurin, consisting of his own original and virtuoso-like arrangement on themes from the pop star Lady Gaga; and in conclusion a duo with a superb performance of Rachmaninov’s famous Vocalise. A well-deserved success.

April 21, 2022, Cesare Guzzardella