 Together
with the pianist Mario Šoša, Mihael Paar gave three remarkably successful
recitals at the International Festivals on the Croatian part of the Adriatic
coast this summer (2005). The performances at the Omiš Summer Festival (July
26), Biograd Summer Festival (July 29) and Korčula Summer Festival
(August 28) left the audiences with an overwhelmingly positive impression.
Their ovation elicited the inspired performance of Schubert's Ave Maria,
a
work not listed in the concert program. Since the concert of the
Pressler-Paar-Kemperle Trio scheduled for August 7 on the Island of
Ugljan had been cancelled, and because of the repeated requests by the
organizer, Mihael Paar took on the challenge of having a non-accompanied
recital. In the period of just a few days, he prepared a virtuoso program
containing works by Bach (Partitas) and Paganini (Cappricies), solo pieces
by Stravinsky and Grgin, as well as well known themes which he arranged
himself. An additional treat for the spectators was a surprise turn in the
program where he
presented himself as a bas-clarinetist, performing a potpourri of well-known
themes, whereas in the last composition – Amazing Grace – he showed his
aspiration towards blues and improvisation. Finally, by playing an encore –
a famous Early Croatian song Fala (Croatian: Thank You) – he
sincerely thanked the audience who described the performances of the last
two compositions as being transcendent. |
