Metamorphosis – Hüseyin Kırmızı

It was moody weather outside Heldeke! on Saturday 23 August, with heavy winds and the threat of rain. A formally-dressed crowd gathered downstairs in the early afternoon, glancing at the upright piano centre-stage, front open and hammers bare. We were there to see Cypriot pianist Hüseyin Kırmızı perform a selection of works, collected under the title Metamorphosis. Tonight’s compositions and arrangements have been chosen as a reflection on major turning points in his life, both personal and professional. 

The show starts without fanfare: Kırmızı enters the stage, bows, and begins. As soon as he sits we are swept away, along for the journey as he pours himself through songs of loss and hope. He’ll pause between songs for a brief note or explanation, then back into the flow. It is a performance rich with urgency and compassion, intensity that rocks the piano and movements both physical and musical that engage the full space with sound. Joyful, pensive motifs merge and emerge to uncertain resolutions. Sentimental and sincere, we get a real sense of the artist’s interior space, and experience of change over time.

This was the only performance by Kırmızı during this festival, but the Tallinn Fringe continues until 18 September. More performances, from piano to circus to theatre, can be found on the full programme .https://fringe.ee/tickets/

Author: Laurie

Laurie likes alliteration, ambiance, and lists with three things.