Sergio A. Mims: New York Times: "Aaron Diehl played an animated and uncommonly sensitive account of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F"

The pianist Aaron Diehl playing Gershwin at the New York Philharmonic concert on Wednesday. Credit Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times

Sergio A. Mims forwards this article:

The New York Times 

By ANTHONY TOMMASINI

SEPT. 22, 2016  

[Excerpt]

Then the acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Aaron Diehl played an animated and uncommonly sensitive account of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. The New York Symphony Society, which merged with the Philharmonic in 1928, gave the premiere of this concerto in 1925 with Gershwin at the piano, so, officially the orchestra can claim premiership. 

Making his Philharmonic debut the day before his 31st birthday, Mr. Diehl played magnificently. He had brilliance when called for during jazz-tinged passages of Lisztian runs and octaves. The roomy freedom of Mr. Diehl’s playing in bluesy episodes was especially affecting. He also folded short improvised sections into the score, and it’s hard to imagine that Gershwin would not have been impressed. The audience was: It gave Mr. Diehl an enthusiastic ovation. He must be invited back.