Reaction to the performance by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason for the Valley Concert Society on Friday, February 20, and the master class on the next day:
Blown away!
(Someone who has heard all the concerts so far this season, thought they were all outstanding, and said that this one was on a different level.)
Young, gifted - and talented. Amazing maturity in deportment, delivery, and a thoughtful comprehensive approach. Friendly and approachable, with playing so firmly grounded in solid technique that it is hardly visible - she makes MUSIC SPEAK. There is the physicality of a ballet dancer in her playing - the body and mind so in tune with one another that they work as one. I find myself struggling to find the words to express what was so polished, complete and yet youthful and fresh about Jeneba's playing. It was exciting, refreshing and very soul satisfying to hear talent so focused on producing art. She produced an almost comprehensive diversity of moods, emotions, styles and character—not for the sake of variety but to convey the composers’ intentions.
Excuse me for 'gushing' - I don't use the word 'extraordinary' lightly - but this was it!
(Joyce Janzen, Board Member and Piano Teacher)
Played with such JOY!
(Audience member)
What a joy to have Jeneba Kanneh-Mason with us for the weekend! This concert and the masterclass were musical highlights for me. It’s hard to choose a favourite piece because there were so many lovely ones. But I will comment on Beethoven’s “The Tempest” and its effect on me. The opening arpeggios were so slow and ominous that you just knew something turbulent was coming. And it did! The Tempest came crashing into our auditorium and kept us spellbound for the next 25 minutes.
(Anna Walker, Board Member)
THAT's what the piano is SUPPOSED to sound like!
(Audience member)
Jeneba’s performance last night was elegant, intimate, and moving. Her precise and clean technique was astounding in and of itself, but how she commanded it to allow the music to speak was mesmerizing. What especially stood out was how patient she was with her tone colours, painting whole worlds of three-dimensional sound. Familiar pieces became altogether new. From the angelic simplicity of sound and mastery of counterpoint in the Bach and the absolute patience with the harmonic tension of the Beethoven, to the exquisite beauty and variety of tone colours in the Debussy and Still, the voicing and clarity in the Price, and the astounding way she made the complex and powerful Chopin harmonies feel almost simple, you know something magical has occurred.
(Kathleen Stanyer, Board Member and Piano Teacher)
I really enjoyed the concert and masterclass. It’s refreshing to observe a young unpretentious talent that handles herself so well in several settings.
(Audience member)
I was so impressed by her playing - a superbly controlled technique that was used, not to show off, but to enable the music to shine, with such a depth of feeling. I especially loved the piece by Florence Price, where the virtuosity was on clear display, but it was used to bring out the soulfulness of that spiritual every time it recurred. What a gift!
(Ina van Dijk, Board Member)