Israeli-born pianist David Greilsammer had his San Francisco debut yesterday, playing two early Mozart concertos with Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie. Those were early concertos, since they were performed at a 2pm matinee. But mostly because Mozart was a teenager when he wrote them. The rest of the run will occur tonight and tomorrow at 8pm at Davies.
Greilsammer is only 33yo, but already juggles responsibilities as soloist, creator of the Suedama ensemble, and music director and conductor of the Geneva Chamber orchestra. He has specialized in Mozart: Suedama spells Amadeus backward, and he has performed recitals of all the piano sonatas. But he has an adventurous streak as well: his latest CD includes the first ever recording of piano concertos by Tansman and Boulanger and he has performed a program matching Scarlatti with Cage, alternating between a regular and a prepared piano. Can't we get him on the phone with Ruth Felt right now? Also, let's not pretend we're not shallow and acknowledge that, despite living in Paris, he exclusively wears Fendi.
We caught up by phone with David a couple hours after his Thursday performance, and he sounded quite relaxed and cool. He seemed oblivious to any earlier adrenaline rush from the high wire act of performing in front of 2,700 seats.