Confident pianism matched with careful programming for insightful recital

Singaporean pianist and musicologist See Ning Hui has made insightful programming and the inclusion of music by new and lesser-known composers a calling card for her recitals.

- Mervin Beng

Pianist See Ning Hui played a recital at the Esplanade Recital Studio on Feb 22.

(PHOTO: YONG JUNYI)

In this concert, she put two halves of music with resonating themes, which she titled ReSounding.

Each compact half opened with a Prelude from Book 1 by Claude Debussy. From her very first notes of Prelude No. 7, See played with almost disarming confidence, with an air of assurance that comes from thorough preparation and technique to spare.

The tempestuous cascades and delicate flourishes were beautifully presented. Add to these a sensitive touch, and it was clear that she is a highly accomplished recitalist.

See’s carefully curated pro-gramme also incorporated two compositions by Singaporean composers, two by pioneering women composers, themed around Easter Sonata by Fanny Hensel (maiden name Mendelssohn), which was written almost two centuries ago, but only correctly attributed to her, rather than her younger sibling Felix Mendelssohn, in 2010.