Thomas Viloteau at Oberlin
In our first guest artist visit to campus since the pandemic hit in the spring of 2019, French phenom Thomas Viloteau joined us for a couple of days this week. He played a brilliant concert (Thursday, Feb 24, 2022) and taught an informative and engaging master class for the studio. A faculty for several years now at Peabody Conservatory, Viloteau, a Parisian, played a program packed with seldom-heard works of considerable depth and complexity.
Thomas Viloteau in Stull Recital Hall, Oberlin Conservatory
We at Oberlin are always ready for new music and challenging pieces, so his program found an enthusiastic response. A recent favorite, Tansman’s Variations on a Theme of Scriabin opened, followed by a work receiving increasing notice, the Due Canzoni Lidie of D’Angelo. Viloteau played it with deep understanding and rendered the virtuosic passages with remarkable fluidity. The first half closed with Houghton’s dark and pensive reflections on Ophelia.
Viloteau played in a very special space at the Conservatory, Stull Recital Hall. A jewel-like room perched on top of the building and encircled with Oberlin’s signature diamond-shaped windows, it is a gorgeously designed and lit space with excellent acoustics. More intimate than some of the other rooms we use, it affords the audience a close perch from which to watch and listen. Had the concert taken place a few hours earlier, we would have been able to see the snow falling outside the windows behind him.
Viloteau’s second half was dedicated to music by Sergio Assad. We heard selections from the first three Suites Brasileira, one of which was written for Viloteau. Assad has emerged as one of our most important composers. In addition to producing music of singular beauty and interest, he has proven himself prolific. It was a rare treat to hear so much of this repertoire played as a long set. (The program is reproduced at the end of the post).
Viloteau takes a bow.
The next day (Friday, Feb 25), Viloteau taught a master class for the guitar studio. First up was Josie Stone, with a performance of Carlevaro’s Campo.
Josie Stone with Thomas Viloteau
Following Josie, Nik Divall played Barrios’ Vals Op. 8, No. 4.
Nik Divall plays for Thomas Viloteau
Following Nik, Suvan Agarwal presented another Barrios work, the Mazurka Appassionata. Before the lesson began, Thomas couldn’t resist braiding the long, loose string ends on Suvan’s guitar. (Suvan’s fist teacher was Alexandra Iranfar, now Thomas Viloteau’s wife.)
Suvan Agarwal plays for Thomas Viloteau
The master class concluded with a performance by Damian Goggins of Giuliani’s Variations on a Theme of Handel.
Damian Goggins with Thomas Viloteau
It was pure joy to once again have a guest on campus. It felt like old times, in the best way (albeit masked). Thomas brought some real inspiration with him and the students were buzzing. Thanks, maestro Viloteau, for a wonderful contribution to our journey this semester! We look forward to having you back.
Rio Manzanares, Damian Goggins, Nik Divall, Josie Stone, Stephen Aron, Thomas Viloteau, Caeli Massey (Suvan Agarwal not pictured)
