Joy

Aldo Ciccolini turns 84 in August. A master interpretor of French piano works, Ciccolini took the stage at Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday night with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the London Philharmonic's rising star guest conductor, trailing behind respectfully. Most artists struggle to maintain their mastery late into their lives; if you closed closed your eyes as Ciccolini began his performance you heard the notes of a virtuoso in his prime.

On the plate for the elder pianist was Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, an effortlessly resonant work composed at the piano as Rachmaninoff worked his way out of a sustained period of depression.

I hardly consider myself to possess a trained ear for classical music, but it was hard to deny the magic that emanated from Ciccolini's piano. Following three encores (no less standing ovations—hard to come by in this city), Ciccolini returned to the stage, took his place in front of the piano and capped off his performance with a stirring rendition of Schubert's Kupelwieser Waltz.

As the audience shuffled out of the auditorium the handkerchiefs and napkins were out in full force; Ciccolini brought the Royal Festival Hall, and me, to tears.