Review: Final Performances At Piano Festival

[Written by Constance Ridley-Smith, Ph.D.]

The 2025 Bermuda Piano Festival resolved with a perfect cadence on Saturday, June 21st. The final program of the series was as intellectually satisfying as it was musically brilliant.

Led by pianist and artistic director Alex Tuchman, the final evening’s performance showcased the best of French Impressionism and Romanticism, while earlier in the week, internationally renowned pianist and pedagogue Eteri Andjaparidze brought transformative instruction to adult pianists through a compelling masterclass.

In the art of piano playing, Alex Tuchman is a master of accuracy, clarity, and brilliance. His final presentation on Saturday evening, 21 June 2025, was nothing short of gratifying — at times, simply invigorating.

The program opened with Maurice Ravel’s [1875–1937] Valse Nobles et Sentimentales [Noble and Sentimental Waltzes], performed with technical precision. Ripples of modal harmonies and unexpected chords shimmered from the keyboard under Tuchman’s hands. A hallmark of Impressionism in music, Ravel’s eight short movements built progressively, leading to a scintillating climax in part seven, Moins vif [Less Lively], followed by a cooling finale, Epilogue: Lent.

Bizet’s Chansons du Rhin [Songs of the Rhine River] was thoughtfully placed within the set, offering a more traditional Romantic contrast. Composed by Georges Bizet [1835–1885], the melodies were lilting and inviting, bringing a warmth and familiarity that grounded the listener before the final work.

The finale — Ravel’s Piano Trio in A Minor — was a standout. Tuchman, joined by violinist Brian Fox and cellist Sumire Kudo, created a thick, rich tapestry of sound that evoked the sonority of a full orchestra — no small feat for a chamber group. Each musician contributed with balance and sensitivity, making for a deeply satisfying close to the evening.

Tuchman also deserves praise for the program’s design. The thoughtful pairing of composers and pieces reflected the attention he gave to continuity and proximity — not only musical, but historical. For example, in the year Bizet died, Ravel was born — an “aural handoff” that felt both symbolic and intentional.

The concert concluded with recognition of student and community musicians who participated in private lessons and a masterclass during the festival week — a gracious and meaningful nod to Bermuda’s growing classical music community. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our coverage; we will tell you more about the masterclass.

- Constance Ridley-Smith, Ph.D., Breakthrough Communications Ltd.

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