Central Oregon Symphony
The second movement [of the Brahms D Minor Concerto] which is truly tenderness in musical form, was played with incredible gentleness and warmth; heartbreakingly beautiful.
November 30, 2012
It was a great pleasure to prepare and perform the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Dan Franklin Smith. From the first meeting we had to discuss the work, three things stood out: Mr. Smith’s thorough and intelligent understanding of the score, his sensitivity towards the music and his refreshingly humble and kind-hearted attitude. His intention, conveyed clearly and consistently in actions and words, was to work with the orchestra and myself in a collaborative process. The feeling was of a shared performance, orchestra and soloist, not simply piano with orchestral background.
While Mr. Smith has broad-range command of the piano, aggressive or subtle when the music demands, clear voicing, lyrically expressive, it was the tenderness with which he treated the instrument that was the highlight for me. The second movement, which is truly tenderness in musical form, was played with incredible gentleness and warmth; heartbreakingly beautiful.
Michael Gesme, Conductor
Central Oregon Symphony