Hello again, Angela,
At your Cornwall, Ontario recital the other evening I commented to you on your beautiful Schumann reading of "Scenes from Childhood". In error, I mentioned I had a recording of this popular work by your former teacher, pianist Jean-Paul Sevilla. (I am sure you must have known I was wrong!) As I drove home that evening, I began to doubt myself, and sure enough -- it is NOT the Schumann look at childhood that I have by M. Sevilla, but rather a lovely CD named "Homage to Childhood", containing the glimpses of childhood offered by Pierne, Grovlez, Ibert, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Debussy. It is no wonder, then, that I could rightly say to you two nights ago that of the various versions I've heard of Schumann's "Scenes of Childhood" by many respected pianists, your so-very-original interpretation of it vaulted itself to the top rung. And kudos to you for that! It is never easy to play technically "easy" pieces in a manner that makes them speak eloquently and deeply. You certainly did that, enduing them with the sense of wonder and innocence and awe that makes childhood, with its journey of "first times", so special. But perhaps even more movingly, you brought to us the sense of loss as we look back to our past and remember how it used to be. The closing number, "The Poet Speaks" moved this listener to tears.
Best wishes when M. Sevilla hears you perform the work in England! I am sure he will award his star pupil full marks!
With the greatest respect,
Margaret Hofmann