Maxim played with Evgenia Startseva in London last night at a fund
raising event for the Holocaust Survivors' Centre in London.

Some of you may remember Evgenia from a world tour with Maxim of a
wonderful recital consisting of all 3 Brahms' Sonatas - 2 or 3 years
ago.

The setting was in a very historic and impressive 500 hundred year old
hall in the Inns of Court which has a double hammer beam roof. It's
worth putting on your list of sights to see when in London if you've
'done' the usual tourist sights already. This should be at the stage
of really getting to know London!

The Centre is a place for those who suffered in the Holocaust to meet
and engage in actitivies with others, with a range of support for a
range of needs, including the everlasting impact of the Holocaust.

But to the concert - Maxim and Evgenia played a programme of pieces
most of which they had played together before. Brahms: Scherzo FAE
sonata, Brhams 3 , Hungarian Dance, then Kreisler and John Williams
(Theme from Schindler's List) and the inevitable Bazzini !

Maxim played with his usual brilliance and charm - but the work which
impressed me most of all was the 3rd Sonata by Brahms. I've heard
Maxim play this work so many times with a range of pianists; this
performance was one of the best, if not THE best. Evgenia played so
musically throughout and found different things in the music than
anyone I've heard - to which Maxim responded. And she played most
powerfully when the music demanded - it was a very moving and
passionate performance.

It was just a pity that the audience applauded in between each of the
movements and disturbed the intense mood of the piece! By the time
the end of the 3rd movement had been reached, then Maxim's gestures
'please don't applaud now' were understood!

The third movement has got slower, I think. When this is played on its
own, as it is sometimes, I think it sounds best quite fast and light -
sparkling and shimmering. But in context I could see why Maxim chose
to take it slower (I assume it was his choice). It meant that the last
movement could be explosively unleashed! Which it was!