Jorge Bolet in Hong Kong 1965

After his two month tour of Australia, Jorge gave a recital for the first time in Hong Kong, on 6 July 1965. 'Jorge Bolet - mark that name well.  Last evening in the City Hall Concert Hall, this American pianist treated a nearly full house to a display of fiery virtuosity which reached its climax in the second half with two Liszt

works and I cannot recall its equal, at least in Hong Kong.

'He chose to open his programme with one of the last of Haydn's sonatas in E flat major written, so Falber Ryan's the impeccable notes remind us, for a German female pianist whose playing had a masculine quality.  As Jorge Bolet himself has all the attributes of virile masculinity – he confesses that this brought him scant sympathy in the early stages of his career – his choice was not surprising. But like so many large men, he brought a delicacy of touch, which was noticeable from the start in the answering phrases in the introduction. 

'In spite of fighting off an attack by an itinerant moth in the first movement of Beethoven's Appassionata, Mr Bolet, hardly faltered, and concluded the movement with all the dramatic intensity it demands. If there was a suspicion of thickness in the theme of the second movement, it was soon dispelled in the rising climax of the subsequent variations. Technical dexterity and expressive control marked the stormy final Allegro, enough to cause some members of the audience to demand to encore on the spot.'

In the Liszt B minor Sonata, the 'guest critic' said he/she saw why Bolet was famed as a Liszt player. 'I am not saying there were no inaccuracies, but I would not like to have to specify any single one – incredible finger work in both hands. The fast repeated notes in the fugue were crystal clear in all the voices, as were the octaves which concluded the prestissimo section.'  Jorge ended with the Mephisto Waltz.

(The South China Morning Post 7.7.65)