By David Beech

The 2004 Young Artists Concert of the Steinway Society of the Bay Area was presented on Sunday evening, February 8, at Le Petit Trianon, San Jose. One of the four selected pianists was unable to appear, but this was still an exciting occasion, despite being uneven in musical quality. 

The evening got off to an excellent start, with Bethany J. Wang from San Ramon playing Beethoven’s “Appassionata” Sonata, Op.57. This was a mature performance that augured well for the future of this 15-year-old pianist, who showed remarkable poise at the keyboard with lithe movements of wrist and arm and body being translated into subtleties of touch and phrasing.

The new Steinway D produced some of the warmest tone heard from it so far, with the right degree of brilliance when needed, and the opening Allegro assai was strong and convincing. The variations of the slow movement were eloquently characterized, and gave further proof of the performer’s love for the music and insight into its thought processes. The finale was exciting without being harsh, lacking only the last ounce of Beethoven’s demonic rhythmic drive. 

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