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Mark Salman
Reviews
Seattle Weekly, Dec. 2005:
Great Sounds of 2005: Performances of
the Year:…Mark Salman's performance of Liszt's
thunder-and-lightning, all-but-unplayable transcription of
Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, chosen to close his eight concert
traversal of Liszt's piano works. He roared through the finale
sounding like he had, oh, six or seven hands with a dozen
fingers each.
The Herald, Everett,WA, April 2005:
(St. Saens 2nd Concerto) Salman's
performance was marked by a real kinetic energy that was
tremendously exciting. His notes seemed to fly out of the
keyboard toward the orchestra, like a ball leaping off the bat.
The Stranger (Seattle), June 2004:
(The Piano Music of Franz Liszt -
from the Ulta-Romantic to the Avant-Garde) I was nailed to my
seat. Hunched over the piano, Salman is fearless and bold,
pounding out fearsomely grandiose chords, yet in a trice, he's
acutely aware of a suddenly emerging lyrical line and
eloquently shapes notes with a supple pedaling most pianists
would envy.
Michael Potemra, Literary Editor, National
Review, 2003:
("Beethoven and his 32 Piano Sonatas -
A Musical Universe" DVD) "Salman performs
… with great vigor and sensitivity. Music lovers will
revel in this video."
Jed Distler, composer/pianist, 2003:
("Beethoven and his 32 Piano Sonatas -
A Musical Universe" DVD) "Leave it to the
talented, ever-evolving Mark Salman to put a fresh spin on
these oft-played works."
Michael Musgrave, Emeritus Professor of
Music, University of London, 2003:
("Beethoven and his 32 Piano Sonatas -
A Musical Universe" DVD) "…first rate:
technically masterly and the interpretations clearly conceived,
so that the effect is spontaneous and the spirit of the music
comes right through."
Tacoma News Tribune Feb. 2, 2002:
(Shostakovich Concerto No. 1)
Astonishing… Exacting and evocative…
Changsha Wanbao, Changsha, China, Dec 2000:
(Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 plus encore)
[Mr. Salman] played with energy and enthusiasm…the
moonlight unearthly quiet and beautiful notes came out of his
fingers and touched the audiences heart…
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 21, 1997:
(Beethoven Sonata Cycle) Technically
he has it all…Salman gave every note its due, however
soft or tiny or thunderous. Each one was shaped, and he touched
each with care, so that runs and arpeggios were strings of
delight. Making use of the widest dynamics the piano has to
offer, his loudest playing never sounded like banging, and his
softest the barest whisper. Phrasing was also thoughtful,
endings were exquisite, and he never lost his way in the
overall structure, making it clear to the listener…At
times his playing was gentle, charming, tender, delightful, at
others raging or torrential…
Tacoma News Tribune, Nov. 25, 1996:
(Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25, K.
503) …One could only marvel at Salman's prodigious
technique, spinning out notes and embellishments at a speed
that would leave lesser pianists in the dust. Even more
impressive, however, was Salman's evenness of touch and his
ability to shape a phrase with exquisitely shaded
dynamics…
Tacoma News-Tribune, Conductor Christophe
Chagnard, interview, Nov. 21, 1996:
"I would make music with Mark
[Salman] any day, anywhere…"
Delaware Cape-Gazette, July 30, 1996:
"…consummate mastery of
keyboard technique … wildly imaginative … dramatic,
yet touchingly lyrical…"
Tacoma News-Tribune, July 30, 1995:
"…The Piano Concerto No. 1
by Shostakovich closed the concert in a most impressive
manner…a supercharged performance that left the audience
breathless. It was hard to decide which was more
impressive - the whirlwind opening and closing movements, or
the introspective, gorgeously sculpted inner
movements…"
Seattle P-I, July 27, 1994
(Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1)
…Salman made the most of the challenges the composer
provided for him. The work's inner lyricism was given a full,
luxurious expression, the outward bravado lots of punch and
energy…
American Record Guide, November/December
1994
(Transcendental Piano, CD)…a
young artist gifted with a sensitive ear, a rich and fluid
technique… Mr. Salman handles [the Alkan] with a wealth
of lyricism…
Prodigy Classical Music Service, Sept. 2,
1992:
(Transcendental Piano, CD)
"…Mr. Salman performed the last [Beethoven] sonata.
He let the variations and fugue unfold with calm and
bliss in the style of Rudolph Serkin. He kept me
enraptured…"
