Global Fascinations and Sophistications

Luiza Borac

One of my joys is going to recitals at London's Steinway showrooms where two halls - a larger and a smaller one - are used on a monthly basis to show off the potentials of budding celebrities. Among a discerning audience I occasionally feel out of place as a lesser member of the critical fraternity, but the sponsors - Noretta Conci Leech and her husband John are present at all events - seek my opinion with so many to choose from.

Two ladies impressed me greatly. Romanian Luiza Borac, who commenced her studies at the Georges Enesco Children's School before going on to Bucharest's Musikakademie. Her colours, particularly in Romantic and French Impressionistic repertoire, were quite scintillating. One of my colleagues thought her Rachmaninov Second Sonata the finest she had heard! Luiza kindly forwarded her CD of Chopin's 12 Etudes opus 25, Liszt's Venezia e Napoli and Ravel's La Valse [listen - track 16, 11:00-11:54] - recorded in Münster - which aptly compares her technical prowess and innate musicianship.

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