LIFE ON THE CIRCUIT : Viardo Plays Virtuoso After the Concert, Too : Late Bites

About 40 members of the Orange County Philharmonic Society dined at the Center Club following Tuesday’s concert by Russian pianist Vladimir Viardo. From the Steinway, Viardo took stern command of the Performing Arts Center stage--raising an authoritative arm to shush intrusive applause just 10 minutes into his concert (between Schubert pieces) and slamming the keyboard closed after his final encore.

At the small dinner party, Viardo was personable but no less commanding. Arriving parched--and hit with reporters’ and guests’ questions--he nixed the proffered sauvignon blanc and asked for champagne (a request OCPS executive director Erich Vollmer whisperingly passed along to the waiter).

Later, as guests were being seated at five large dinner tables, Viardo and friend Andrea Della Schiava slipped from the banquet room for a smoke. “I need a cigarette,” Schiava said, as Viardo lit one himself. “And I need more of this,” said the pianist, raising his empty champagne glass to Vollmer.

Party Talk

“I liked the way he got everybody to do just what he wanted them to do when he played,” said Frank Posch, husband of OCPS board chairwoman Nancy Posch. “He belongs up there (on stage), and he’s at home up there. He’s not intimidated.”

(During the concert intermission, Nancy Posch said one of the Schubert/Liszt songs in the first half filled her with memories. “I used to play that song,” she said, then added quickly, “but not like that!”)

Ed Halvajian, OCPS board president, said he was surprised by the second half of the program, which included work by Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff. “I expected the two Russian pieces to be more bombastic, with all this emotion and noise. But they were much more interesting than that. More subtle. Wonderful.”

Ditto for Warren Bauer, who with his wife, Lynda and Joann Halvajian discussed Viardo’s “sensitive touch.” Barbara Glabman commended the artist’s “passionate playing,” while Susan Beechner asked rhetorically: “How many times do you have to hit a note to get that beautiful sound to come out?”

On the Record

“I was taking them on a leash,” said Viardo, with a smile, when asked about quieting the applause-happy crowd during his concert. He continued, haltingly, a bit uncomfortable with his English. “Reception is part of the creation. The audience could spoil things if you are not strong enough.” Smile.

The concert hall, he said, was “brilliant. Maybe too brilliant. It doesn’t give you a chance to conceal your mistakes. In some halls, it’s like taking a warm bath (when you play). In this hall”--smile--”you feel somewhat naked.”

Who Was There

Sandeand Dick Schwarzstein, Gwen and Jim Johnson, Elaine and Fritz Westerhout, Mary and Walter Frome, and Mary Jane and Bob Engman (who two years ago bought for the Performing Arts Center the Steinway Viardo played on Tuesday).

Menu

The light dinner, served at 10:30 p.m., included hearts of palm and romaine lettuce with pink grapefruit vinaigrette, marinated chicken with angel hair pasta, and chocolate velvet cake with vanilla bean sauce.

Quote

“I was a music major at UCLA,” said Warren Bauer. “I played oboe. Then I played piano. Now I play a lot of CDs.”