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20 September 2011
Gorgeous music executed well
From lyrical conversations of Beethoven to haunting gypsy melodies from Ravel, the concert was lead by master musicians Martin Risely and Diedre Irons; transporting the very full and appreciative audience.
Beethoven Sonata No10 Cock Crow demonstrated the composer's ability to write beautiful chamber music allowing each instrument to flourish and accompany. The violin and piano wove the story with ease throughout the contrasting movements, through the haunting slow movement to the lighter scherzo. The final movement based on a cheerful theme and seven variations left the audience smiling.
Stephan Prock's commission Stradivariazioni, based on Stradivarius violins, was beautifully executed by both performers.
Each movement was a different character and reminded me of how each instrument has a story to tell. Prock's ability to create space in the piano lines set the scene for the violin to add improvisatory fills.
The most perplexing for the audience was the Red Diamond, where Risley started with metronomic taps on his violin and proceeded several times to play, but like true performance art the audience was left wanting.
Ravel's Tzigane is a favourite of listeners, and requires immense technical facility from the performer. Risley was certainly in control from the start. Ravel wrote and dedicated the piece for Joachim's great-niece Jelly d'Aranyi at the time when the virtuoso performer was prevalent in Europe. Risely made the music breathe; we were transported beyond the technical to the sublime.
Schubert produced an enormous body of work in his short life rich in texture. The Fantasie in C Major, published posthumously, allows both the violin and piano to "show off" while keeping a sense of song throughout. The ensemble playing between the violin and piano was outstanding each projecting through their melodic lines and retreating with accompaniments.
With such an enthusiastic response we were treated to a short encore, Beethoven Sonata No7, Scherzo to conclude a gorgeous evening of fine music.