afternoon. She offered generous length and variety and,
most of all, extraordinary poetry.
She took command of the large and the small.
Beethoven's late-period "trifles" aren't to be trifled with.
They make the pianist think simply and purely yet very
abstractly. They demand great concentration of gesture
but also the ability to change moods instantly. Carmichael
gave them their due.
She then shaped Schubert's great sprawling sonata, well
nigh 40 minutes of playing time. She seemed to enjoy its
countless valleys most but certainly had strength enough
to climb its few climactic peaks.
Her rendition of Debussy's "Reflets dans l'eau" was one of
the rare times I've heard the title sensibly translated into
sound. The harmonic and figurational "water" shimmered
just enough to gently blur the outlines of melodic and
motivic images.
A wealth of articulations gave individual, regional color to
each of Falla's Spanish sketches.
Chopin's longest, most mercurial scherzo was played so
quickly and lightly that psychological time wreaked
delightful havoc on real time.
It confirmed the entire afternoon's impression:
Carmichael, at mezzo-piano level and below, is a magical
musician.
-Michael Andrews, Palo Alto Times Tribune
and unique start to the new artistic season in Radziejowice,
which is now growing into one of the premiere scenes of
Polish culture".
- Kultura, Poland
beautiful and profound and melancholy".
- E. Lozada
interpretations were always very refined, thoughtful and discerning, yet emotional and
expressive. She always won over her audiences in every respect."
- Laszlo Varga, former Principal 'Cellist, New York Philharmonic Orchestra
phenomenal, with Carmichael's piano technique
radiating deep from some rare and graceful
rhythm within, moving many in her audience to
tears....as lush, thrilling and intensely personal as
anything you are ever likely to hear.
- Pacifica Tribune