Following our earlier coverage of the singleTzigane by Maya Levy and Marina Saiki, we didn't want to miss the concert of this magnificent duo as part of the Musical Treasures series on 13 February at the Royal Library in Brussels. The program concluded with Ravel's compelling and the anticipation of hearing this work live was immense. What already convinced on the recording would undoubtedly gain in intensity in the concert hall. by Maya Levy and Marina Saiki, we didn't want to miss the concert of this magnificent duo as part of theMusical Treasures – in every sense of the word
The title of the series proved to be particularly apt. The music on the program – works by Ravel and Saint-Saëns – can without question be considered musical heritage of the highest order. But equally, the title applied to the performers themselves. Maya Levy and Marina Saiki are artists of exceptional caliber, musicians who not only excel technically, but who infuse their playing with vision, refinement, and a palpable artistic conviction.
That all this took place in the Royal Library was itself a discovery. Those familiar with this impressive building primarily as a repository of books, manuscripts, and historical documents wouldn't immediately expect an intimate concert hall where music can sound so direct and intense. Yet the location proved to be an ideal setting for this afternoon concert. Moreover, there were scores and other documents on display relating to the program, which allowed the music to be situated within its historical context. The audience was numerous and responded from the outset with warm attention and enthusiasm.
That this all took place in the Royal Library was itself quite a discovery. Those familiar with this impressive building primarily as a repository of books, manuscripts, and historical documents wouldn't necessarily expect to find an intimate concert hall where music could sound so direct and intense. Yet the venue proved to be an ideal setting for this afternoon concert. Moreover, there were scores and other documents on display that were connected to the program, which placed the music, in a sense, within its historical context. The audience was present in good numbers and responded from the very start with warm attention and enthusiasm.
A captivating program
From the opening notes of Ravel's Kaddish it was clear that this would be an exceptional concert. Levy's violin sounded warm, fervent, and deeply felt. She played with natural phrasing, with a tone that radiated both vulnerability and inner strength. Saiki followed and led simultaneously, her piano playing was richly nuanced and perfectly balanced, never merely accompanying, but always in dialogue.
In the Flower Duet from the opera Lakmé','by Léo Delibes. Their voices blend perfectly. the duo revealed another dimension of Ravel's language: sensual, subtly rhythmic, and with refined lightness. Here it became evident how flawlessly they had rehearsed together. Every nuance, every acceleration or deceleration was shared, without ever sounding contrived.
With Saint-Saëns' Sonata No. 1 Op. 75, the concert took on a more monumental character. The sonata demands both virtuosity and structural insight, and both musicians answered that challenge with conviction. Saiki delivered a powerful, clear piano sound, with impressive control over dynamics and texture. Levy combined technical mastery with a passionate intensity that gave the work dramatic tension without sacrificing elegance. It was music-making at a level that effortlessly deserved the great concert halls.
Tzigane – fire and refinement
The closing piece, Ravel's by Maya Levy and Marina Saiki, we didn't want to miss the concert of this magnificent duo as part of theformed the crowning moment of the afternoon. On the previously discussed single, the duo chose to use the luthéal, the instrument Ravel originally had in mind, which gave the recording a special timbre. In the live performance, the work was heard in the version for violin and piano, offering a different, but no less fascinating perspective.
The long, free opening of the violin was simply breathtaking. Levy built up the tension with an almost theatrical intensity, never losing the musical line. When the piano enters, a dialogue unfolds full of energy, precision, and refinement. Saiki's playing was rhythmically sharp yet fluid at once, a solid foundation upon which Levy could let her virtuosic lines shine. The combination of technical brilliance and musical refinement made this performance captivating from beginning to end.
A well-deserved ovation
The concert captivated from the first to the last note. Not a moment of slackening attention, no passage became routine. What Maya Levy and Marina Saiki delivered was music-making at the highest level, with an intensity and maturity that made a profound impression.
The exuberant and prolonged applause with which the audience rewarded them at the end was more than justified. This afternoon in the Royal Library proved that series on 13 February at the Royal Library in Brussels. The program concluded with Ravel's compelling is no empty title, but an apt description of what was offered here: music and musicians of exceptional value.
