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Michael Tsalka
Selected Concert Reviews
“A marvel of nuance and expression”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
http://www.temple.edu/boyer/, Dr. Edward D. Latham, 11.30.2007
This afternoon’s well-attended “recitation-al” or “recital-ation,” given by
Michael Tsalka (piano) and Dr. Darrel Walters (recitation) . . . provided both
reverie and revelation . . . The beauty of the
“intermingled” program, however, was that the sonnets could be heard
both/either as commentary on the preceding music and/or inspiration for that
which followed them, inviting multiple connections—both
backwards and forwards—by the audience . . .
The opening selection, “O Mistris Myne” in G Major, by William Byrd, was
particularly effective . . . and set a graceful and elegant tone for the
performance with its many late-Renaissance ornaments and flourishes….The
simple, folk-like melody and flowing homophonic accompaniment of the Chopin,
beautifully rendered by Tsalka, created a clear and expressive contrast to the
Byrd. . .
Mr. Tsalka’s playing was a marvel of nuance and expression, particularly in the
Chopin prelude and the Beethoven sonata. He demonstrated a remarkable ability
to accentuate and/or suggest images and ideas from the sonnets through the
manipulation of tempo, dynamics, articulation, and phrasing….
“A virtuoso interpreter”
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Radio Nacional Clásica FM 96.7, Leopoldo Perez, 11.17. 2007
Maestro Michael Tsalka is a virtuoso interpreter on clavichord, harpsichord,
fortepiano, modern piano, and organ….
“Brilliant piano performance”
Trier, Germany
“Trier Volksfreund”, 25.08.2007
The Preludes Op. 28 were
performed by Israeli pianist Michael Tsalka. . . they were delivered with
ingenious expression which brought to light their nature as truly large
musical statements. Tsalka did not need to exaggerate anything in his
brilliant piano performance; he played tastefully, with strong expression
and beautiful tone quality.
"A special treat"
Recital at the Schubert Club in St. Paul, MN
Newsletter for the Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society, Fall 2007
Michael Tsalka's
mini-recital of "Late Keyboard Music by W.A. Mozart" was a special treat,
he is a fine performer; he performed these works on a newly finished pedal
fortepiano by Philip Belt, who was in attendance. The compositions
were a Gigue in G Major (K. 574), a Sonata in D Major (K. 576), and Six
Variations on a Theme from the Clarinet Quintet (K. 581). I look
forward to hearing him again!
Comment by fortepiano builder, Philip Belt
Comment by fortepiano builder, Philip Belt
Recital at the Schubert Club in St. Paul, MN Richmond, Virginia
www.pal-item.com,
17.05.2007
The entire evening was
somewhat emotional . . . because fortepiano player Michael Tsalka of
Philadelphia played Belt's instruments during the meeting. You
should have heard this guy play.
He sounded like an angel. People were just in heaven "He did a great job.
"
“Artistic integrity and great inspiration”
Stockholm, Sweden
Katrinehom Kurier, 21.01.2007
The program began with a
melodic and lyrical interpretation of the F minor Fantasy by Franz Schubert.
Michael Tsalka, born in Israel and residing in the United States, has a long
list of prizes and awards, as well as performances worldwide with Carl Ponten.
With Carl Ponten at the bass part of the piano, we expected the duo to produce
utmost ability and the highest level of performance. No one was disappointed:
The romantic vein and melodic genius of Schubert was treated with the utmost
artistic integrity and inspiration. Tsalka and Ponten live in music and lift
each other musically in a remarkable duo. Their playing was dynamic, and the
piano sounded like an entire orchestra. The duo has an almost telepathic
communication. They are able to change, intuitively, the dynamics and expression
during the performance, carefully listening to each other. This capacity is a
sign of a grand artistic personality, but also humility and sensitivity for
music and for each other. On top of that, they have demonstrated a vast
technical knowledge performing difficult passages most brilliantly and with
great ease.
“An invigorating performance”
Edinburgh, Scotland
“British Clavichord Society Journal” 10.2006
The symposium opened on Friday
evening with recitals by Paul Simmonds and Michael Tsalka on the Russel
Collection’s 1763 clavichord by Johann Adolf Hass . . . A strong sense of
melodic narrative was evident in Tsalka’s playing . . .This was an invigorating
performance, and there were certainly sparks flying in the closing A minor
Sonata.
“Wonderfully expressive”
Notre Dame, Indiana
Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society Newsletter. Fall 2006
Michael Tsalka was the first recitalist on the harpsichord....his program
consisted of two Bach works....His playing was wonderfully expressive with nice
tempi.
"Outstanding performer"
Boston, Massachussets
Acton and Stow TV Report, 20.9.2005
Tsalka is an outstanding
performer on the piano; you only needed to hear a few minutes of his performance
to realize that you were listening to a very special talent. The music ran
smoothly off his fingers as he and the grand piano in front of him became one in
the creation of the afternoon's music. His last piece in the concert, the
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C Sharp Minor by F. Liszt was outstandingly played
with fingers and arms moving so fast it was almost a blur to those of us
watching.
“Johann Sebastian Bach: Past, Present, Future”
Miami, Florida
“The Diapason”, 06.2005
Young Israeli-born Michael
Tsalka (Philadelphia, PA) played three of Bach’s concerto transcriptions from
original works of Telemann and Vivaldi in an engaging and brilliant
early-morning harpsichord program.
“Excellent playing”
De Land, Florida
Southeastern Historical
Keyboard Society Journal, 08.2005.
Saturday morning presented new member Michael Tsalka in J.S. Bach’s keyboard
transcriptions called baroque concertos. His excellent playing was a joy to
long-term members as well as to some of his teachers who are also members of
SEHKS and MHKS.
“A most talented young musician”
Salta, Argentina
“Tribuno”, 26.11.2001
Michael Tsalka’s performance at
the “House of Culture” allowed us to meet a performer with remarkable
characteristics. He offered a long, demanding program — opening with the Sonata
K.V. 311 by Mozart and followed with Four Polish songs by Chopin (transcribed by
Liszt). In the second half we heard ten pieces by Mendelssohn, a most impressive
Scherzo written for Tsalka by the young Israeli composer Matan Daniel Porat and
the glorious and difficult Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt. Tsalka, despite his
young age, is a most mature interpreter. His playing is precise, elegant, with
an aristocratic touch. His performance of trills, arpeggios and scales is worth
all praise. His finger technique is amazing. Tsalka made a strong impression on
the lovers and admirers of Classical Music in Salta.
“A fine and subtle recital”
Tucuman, Argentina
“El Siglo”, Prof. Guzmán, 25.11.2001
Last Monday we had the
opportunity of listening to young Israeli pianist Michael Tsalka, who performed
at the University of Tucuman. During the first half, he performed pieces by
Mozart and Chopin. From the beginning of the Mozart sonata, Tsalka demonstrated
control of a pearly, brilliant touch, ideal for the Salzburg composer, as well
as a subtle phrasing full of nobility and expression in the second movement of
the sonata. With the same clearness, precision and splendid technique, the
pianist then performed four Polish songs. A lyrical singing on the piano,
conceived as pure emotional expression is perhaps among the strongest
characteristics of the young performer, which specializes in a composer that is
seldom performed on the piano, unfortunately, Felix Mendelssohn. Most of the
second half was dedicated to the German composer.
Tsalka’s dedication to produce a sound filled with subtleties and colors, in
spite of the piano (that long ago should have been replaced), underlined even
more his level as a performer. Following a short piece by an Israeli composer
that showed the pianist’s flexibility in a modern language, the recital reached
its peak with the brilliant Hungarian Rhapsody.
“A star duo”
Katrineholm, Sweden.
“Katrinehom Kurier”, 13.07.2001
Friday's concert has been the
highlight of this year's festival. Following their concert in Tel-Aviv, the
Ponten-Tsalka Piano Duo was called a duo of international stars: the completely
packed hall confirmed that judgment. It was fascinating to watch how both
pianists technically completed each other perfectly. Mendelssohn's Variations,
so rich with ideas, were performed in a highly subtle way and yet in a romantic
and dramatic manner.
“A great duo”
Julita, Sweden.
“Katrinehom Kurier”, 09.07.2001
In Bazzini's piece both the
violinist and pianist gave a most remarkable performance. Especially impressive
were two folklore pieces from Kazakhstan, both were delivered at a very fast
tempo, full with soul and spirit, awakening in the audience great
Respect for that distant country and its culture.
“Outstanding and moving interpretations”
Rome, Italy
Festival Musicale delle Nazioni
Daniel della Setta, 27.06.2001
Michael Tsalka's outstanding
and moving interpretations of Mozart and Schubert will be long remembered by
this distinguished audience.
“Congenial four-hands playing at the Musical Academy”
Stockholm, Sweden
“Katrinehoms-Kuriren”, Holger Wiegertz, 23.11.2000
Four-hands piano playing can
occasionally sound "off-beat" when both performers are not completely
integrated, but tonight at Nybrokajen 11 there was not even a trace of that. We
have written earlier about this piano duo describing them as "musical twins".
There is no need to change anything in this statement. It was a miracle of
congeniality . . .Two great pianists that share similar ideas about music — one
could say; two artists with one soul . . . They will surely be very much in
demand at the international concert scene.
The program was based on the pieces they performed when winning the First Prize
in the important international competition in Calabria, Italy this past spring.
It was superbly chosen and interesting. It also included a world premiere
written by the Israeli composer Matan Daniel Porat, born in 1982: Mozart’s
Sonata in F-Major, K. 497 is a fascinating composition, complex and difficult to
play. The duo performed the piece brilliantly and the public could feel the
great musical power at the highest intensity. Andante con Variazioni by
Mendelssohn was performed with extraordinary elegance, with great decisiveness
even in the most virtuoso passages.
“Stars of music”
Rome, Italy
Festival Musicale delle Nazioni
Daniel della Setta, 25.07.2000
The piano pieces performed were
by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Chopin and Gershwin. The highly-gifted Israeli
pianist, Tsalka — in the midst of an extensive tour in Europe — interpreted with
mastery the Variations on "Salve tu, Domine" by Mozart, as well as three songs
by Gershwin. His approach to different genres and styles, from "The man I love"
to a Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt was inventive and original. The public,
delighted with the performance of "Songs without Words" by Mendelssohn,
responded with great warmth.
“Simplicity and elegance”
Julita, Sweden.
“Folket”, C.J. Leijgard, 11.07.2000
Mozart’s Sonata K. 311 was
performed by Michael Tsalka in a way that made the public realize immediately
that the piano technique in this recital would be at an absolute top level.
Tsalka quickly took command of the evening at the full concert hall and did so
with such simplicity and great elegance that the public was enchanted.
“Dress-rehearsal for a great tour”
Idar-Oberstein, Germany
“Nahe Zeitung “, Nikolaus Furch, 28.12.1998
Michael Tsalka mesmerized his
audience with an incisive line and rhythmic vitality. His clarity of detail,
delicacy and passionate involvement were compelling.
“Unveiling hidden treasures”
Idar-Oberstein, Germany.
“Rhein Main Presse”, 26.12.1998
Michael Tsalka appeared in the
Church showing his great gift for fine dynamic shading and marvelous
interpretative powers which emphasized the meditative and shining qualities of
his chosen composers.
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