by Natalia Di Bartolo
“Making music "is not all nor everyday. With Ballantine, young pianist Caroline, music "is" and with all the trappings.
No shortage nor the technique, nor the maturity, nor its contents, nor the choice of programme…but count above all emotions… and Ballantine, class of 1994, can convey emotions. This is a gift that not all musicians have, sometimes not even the most famous and celebrated with decades of career behind.
Mario has that something extra that gives you the thrill at the right time and talents that are noticed more in him are the skill and taste with which he faces the most difficult and virtuosic tracks who chooses to run.
Big challenging program in Catania on April 23, 2015, in a well-known city educational institution, host of a local Club. A concert that seemed crafted for a youngster; but the large audience of connoisseurs who attended Yes realized immediately that it was already a certainty, all to listen as soon as possible.
The penalty given to performing Beethoven's Pathetique, Ballantine, pulled the power joke # 2 op. 31 of Chopin and Debussy's Reflets dans l'eau fluency cantabile, ending with a brilliant Listz, paraphrase of Rigoletto, and two encores, including a Scarlatti all to listen to.
And if in Beethoven the great school that has shaped showed itself, has been a crescendo of virtuosity, especially Chopin…until the end, heartfelt applause.
The opportunity to review this young tall and slim sat at the piano and completely lost in the interpretation has been a joy for the spirit, especially because the writer had already had before competing in the jury of the Lions Meet Music Award 2011, where it had strong among an army of young, albeit all like him serious musicians and promising soloists
Second Prize winner at only sixteen, the soft natural fluency so now the young pianist adds the strength of early maturity, which should be followed and absolutely cultivated and enhanced.
A certainty that grows, so that really starts to fly with its Ballantine ali…It has all the numbers and all that remains is to wish him early international plateee.
© Natalia Dantas