The Oberlin College Artist Recital Series opened its 123rd season on Oct. 9 with an outstanding performance by pianist Richard Goode. More then 950 members of the Oberlin Community and surrounding areas packed into Finney Chapel to hear the Grammy-award winning pianist deliver a program of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Debussy.

A native of New York, Goode’s résumé includes solo performances at Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. He has also performed and recorded with major American and European orchestras. In 1993, Goode became the first American artist to record the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas, on the Nonesuch label.

The program opened with Mozart’s Sonata in F major. The first work on the program was performed with delicate brilliance. Goode often smiled and hummed the melody as he played. The opening allegro was light and playful. The andante was sensitive and the final rondo was crisp.

Four Preludes by Claude Debussy followed. Full of lush colors, modes and minute subtleties, Debussy’s music was delivered with the utmost sensitivity. Goode displayed great physical enthusiasm when he played. In the third prelude, Goode nearly jumped away from the piano at the movements climax.

To end the first half the show, Goode played the famous Beethoven Sonata No. 26 named Das Lebewohl or The Farewell.

Well respected for his interpretation of Beethoven, he began the opening adagio with such authority, one would have thought Goode had written it himself; every note was executed with such poise and precision. The spontaneity of the first movement’s allegro, the sentimental sonority of the andante and the charisma of the final vivace left the audience wanting to hear the sonata again.

The program concluded with an exquisite performance of the A minor Sonata by Franz Schubert. The second half started perhaps a little slower then would be desired. The first movement was so soothing that I wanted to curl up and sleep. However, Goode regained attention towards the end of the second movement with a surprise fortissimo chord embellished by a loud stump on the piano pedal. That was enough to keep the audience awake for the rest of the sonata.

For the encore, Goode played Bach’s Sarabande from the “Partita in E minor.” The piece was short and delicate piece instead of a loud and flamboyant allowing Goode to demonstrate his scale playing capabilities.

Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Visiting Professor of Piano, said of Goode’s performance, “Mr. Goode’s understanding of the music is amazing.”

Indeed, even someone not learned in classical repertoire would enjoy listening to Goode. He has the ability to draw in the listener with his charismatic performing; Goode lives harmoniously with the music.