A Demigod at the Keys The pianist Maxim Lando with the Museum Orchestra at the Alte Oper

Frankfurt – A star is born. His name is Maxim Lando. The American becomes a demigod at the piano, if he isn’t one already. What the 22-year-old conjures from the grand piano at the season opener of the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra at the Alte Oper is already one of the highlights of the still-young season.

Lando gives Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in d minor a devilish touch. The mixture of lively precision and youthful energy immediately captivates. Contrary to every pianist's rule, the artist does not sit properly at the piano but rather on the edge of the piano bench, slightly above the keyboard. His forearms never form a parallel to the ground; his elbows are too high, preventing a right angle between forearm and upper arm. His shoulders are slightly hunched forward, not relaxed.

From above, with his nose over the middle D, Lando dives into the keys. This time, they belong not to a Steinway but to a Bechstein piano, which has a slightly harder treble than its more famous counterpart. This suits the energetic playing of the virtuoso, especially in the outer movements. In the slow and delicate middle section, the instrument lacks a bit of sentimental warmth.

The encores become a sensation. A jazzed-up, highly difficult, and fast Shostakovich leaves mouths agape. Then, "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin in a dazzling version, which, despite its emphasis, is full of sensitivity. Both arrangements are credited to the pianist, earning him a laurel wreath for his masterful improvisation skills. Magnificent!

The Stuttgart General Music Director Cornelius Meister shows empathy during his guest appearance at the podium, leading the flawlessly performing orchestra to a pulsating peak performance. Not only in Brahms but also in the fourth symphony by Dvořák, which follows after the intermission, the devil is let loose. The first movement rumbles, the Andante luxuriates, the Scherzo scurries, and the final Allegro, with its block-like structure, sounds like a Bauhaus construction looks: simple and straightforward.