Westcott Sounds Like a Winner

The Seattle Symphony Orchestra Sunday Matinee Concert, with Peter Eros, guest conductor, and Mark Westcott, piano soloist. Opera House, yesterday. Program repeated tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday with Hana Vered, piano soloist (tickets at 447-4736).

The Seattle Symphony has had considerable success over the years with young pianists on the soloist roster of the Sunday matinee series, dedicated to the discovery of new talent.

The series has brought Seattle debut performances by such formidable talents as Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, and Boris Bloch, to mention but a few.

Mark Westcott, who performed with the symphony yesterday afternoon, is the newest addition to that roster. Like many of his distinguished predecessors, he seems destined for a major career.

Blond, handsome and gifted with showmanship as well as considerable technical prowess, Westcott delivered a sizzling and colorful performance of the Ravel G Major Piano Concerto under the baton of Peter Eros, the orchestra's guest conductor.

Westcott's rapid-fire fingers made easy work of the toccata-like presto, but he is no mere technician. The limpid adagio movement was rendered with a singing grace and an obvious understanding of Ravel's bitter sweet, unsentimental style.

Melinda Bargreen, Times music critic

Copied by Ben Serna-Grey