An Open Letter

Dear Mr Nikolai Lugansky,

I was one of the lucky few who was at your performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday 4 Nov 2006. The night you made my heart stop.

We had made the pilgrimage up to KL to watch you in action from Singapore the night before. Taken the time off work on Friday and catching the overpriced SIN-KUL flight on SQ. Whincing through an insipid Schumann Cello Concerto by yet another disappointing American named Ralph on that Friday night. Cringing as your fellow countryman snoozed through a sedate Sarasate. I was dismayed and flustered. About to write off yet another wasted weekend.



Then you walked onstage and into my life.

When you opened with those grandiose and expansive chords, you had everyone at the Dewan Petronas cheering for you. Prokofiev's graduation piece; his First Piano Concerto never sounded so lively and invigorating. Your bold tackling of the bravura solos and the endless effortless bright, percussive textures had kept me at the edge of my seat. I'm sure many of your admirers have said it to you before, but your performance took my breath away last night. You even made me stay for the hackneyed "Arrangement of Traditional Malay Songs" and the rousing finale of British sea songs.

Thank you, Maestro. For being the highlight of my trip this weekend. For breathing faith into yet another jaded follower who was about to drown in the sterile and overpriced arts scene in Singapore. For reminding me how good music can and always will, make your heart sing.

Your ardent admirer.