Pianist Nina Kennedy Thrills her Audience
By Christopher Hosford Nina Kennedy was so wonderful to grace our home, to play Pletnev's transcription of Tchaikovsky's Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker . Nina’s captivating interpretation emphasized its rhythmic drive and emotional depth, and our guests were stunned by the dance's playful, demanding spirit. Nina Kennedy in Vienna Nina’s flawless technique in the rapid runs and octave cascades were beautifully clean, and really amazed our guests. We all felt she captured the ballet's playful grace perfectly, with spot-on pedaling that evoked the Nutcracker's orchestral sparkle. In particular, her lyrical phrasing in the adagio variation shone through, balancing virtuosity and emotional tenderness like the pro recitalist she is! Did I mention the harp-like evocations that Nina brought out like a champ? Arpeggios galore, up and down, up and down, and our vintage Chickering grand held its own! A virtuoso performance to our assembled guests, like no other! As encores, ...