Raymond Spasovski is a wonderful pianist; it really is as simple as that. Performing concerts since the age of ten, Spasovski has been the recipient of awards far too numerous to list here. His most recent offering at the Fringe is called Kaleidescope, and rather than focus on the work of a particular composer or style, he offers up a collection of pieces by a range of composers.
Ranging from Bach to Gershwin and beyond, Spasovski tells his audience that, although it is a cliche, ‘variety is the spice of life.’ Rather than explore a singular path as most classical concerts would do, he has chosen to treat us to a range of his favourites from many styles and many countries.
This approach has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, there are names in the programme which many may be unfamiliar with, and Spasovski does a brilliant job of introducing each piece before it is played to provide the audience with a bit of context. Each piece is beautiful and a pleasure to hear at the Canadian pianist’s fingertips. Rarely are pieces as diverse as Ravel’s gorgeous and floating ‘Ondine’ performed in the same programme as a few jagged, jazzy preludes by Gershwin.
However, though the mix of Chopin with lesser known names such as Albeniz or Ginastera is a good way to introduce an audience to composers so often overlooked, it naturally lacks cohesion as a performance. As I have explained, Spasovski’s show is not like others which focus on a specific composer, genre, or region and this is acknowledged early on. Yet acknowledging it does not entirely make up for the lack of a central connecting theme in the show, which unfortunately does seem to diminish the impact of each piece, and the concert as a whole.
Mr Spasovski is a talented pianist and the wide range of material he describes and performs is fascinating and gratefully welcomed. Despite its eclectic selection, each piece is performed masterfully, making the show on the whole undeniably great.
