Даниил Трифонов

[humorable]

The only one with a reputation preceding him was 20-year-old Daniil Trifonov, who has had acclaimed keyboardists as uncompromising as Martha Argerich singing his praises. Trifonov’s Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto more than matched expectations. He gave the opening salvo a spring in the step that immediately banished the “warhorse” tag, before uncovering a multitude of voices in the first movement cadenza, some of them unexpectedly dark. There was no hint of playing for effect. Trifonov is more than capable of the bewitching virtuosity this concerto invites, as his finale amply demonstrated, but he is too much a force of nature to play to the gallery. While his performance had enough lightness and playfulness to banish the bombast, it also harnessed firepower and temperament. The sooner we hear Trifonov in Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, the better.