Embedded Files
Friday 19th September - A Pair of Swells
The name, a nod to the1948 musical Easter Parade, gave us a strong clue about Friday evening’s entertainment. And Joe Stilgoe and Liza Pulman certainly are entertaining!
Introduced with wit, style (and no little sparkle), and punctuated with occasional acidic topical references, Liza’s sublime voice and Joe’s extraordinary piano playing combined to give us an evening of classics from the Great American Song Book (think Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Kern and Stephen Sondheim, among many others).
But this was much more than just a collection of songs from musicals and films of yesteryear. As well as old favourites like People Will Say We’re in Love, Mountain Greenery and Close Your Eyes, we had some of Joe’s own more recent compositions, including That Was Then, and Harmony (beautiful harmonies right there, of course, and it should be said that Joe’s voice also needed to be pretty good for them to work so well). They paired Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon’s 1926 song Bye Bye Blackbird with Paul McCartney’s 1968 Beatles’ classic Blackbird to treat us to one of their trademark song doubles. And always that harmony.
Performing is quite literally in their DNA, and as if to emphasise their versatility, we heard Joe on double bass, and Liza on Kazoo, while I’m sure few will forget Joe’s imitation of a muted trumpet, or his air double bass, or the opportunity to select a few tunes for him to blend in his own inimitable style….Ride of the Valkyries in the key of F, anyone?
Music, it has been said, is what happens between the notes, and I was struck by how cleverly the evening was put together; and by how the entertainment transcended the songs - and even those glorious harmonies.
What a swell party it was!
Mike Edmund
Saturday 20th September - Carducci String Quartet and pianist Julius Drake.
First Schubert and a String Quartet he wrote when just sixteen years old. This work is already classic Schubert, a joy to hear an absolute gem. The quartet played it with much care and enthusiasm with its bold first movement , the beautiful slow third, fast exciting fourth with hints of the opening and of course the second featuring that donkey!
There then followed the String Quartet in E–flat major by Fanny Mendelssohn, (Mendelssohn’s sister). This work, composed in 1834, like nearly everything Fanny wrote was lost or ignored for many, many years but fortunately this is now being redressed. The Quartet completely realised the power and significance of this piece with its intense opening followed by an agitated/urgent second then the amazing desolate third with music here well ahead of its time and then the fast and exciting final movement.
Following the interval just one work, Shostakovich: Piano Quintet in G minor, this completed in 1940 and first performed in the then Leningrad.
Joining the Quartet at this point Julius Drake opened the work with the solo piano part playing the very high register notes required, then the instruments of the quartet start to enter. It is an extraordinary piece, based on five movements, with all the musicians having significant solo moments and coming together to capture the contrasting atmospheres: stark/soft/jaunty/tender/menacing/resigned then following a bridge provided by the solo violin the final fifth movement light, gentle and mysterious as indeed the work ends. In the hands of these five brilliant musicians it was just perfection.
John Malin
Friday 26th September - Pupils from the Purcell School for Young Musicians
It’s incredible that our tiny village can stage this annual event with truly world class performers. Many thanks to the organisers whose efforts and skill enable such enriching experiences.
On 26th September we were privileged to witness great young musicians from a great music school. These brilliant students will grace the world’s concert halls for many years. Here in humble Sarratt we saluted their artistic wizardry in a programme of classical showpieces.
Moscow born classical guitarist Kate Yanovskaya moved to England aged 12. Her interpretation of Domeniconi’s difficult ‘Koyunbaba’ piece was sublime. With hints of eastern mystery and exoticism this romantic performance had echoes of the great Spanish composer Rodrigo. Kate’s technique was faultless and, amid the beauty, jarring interludes reminded us that there are dark forces in the world. A deeply engaging performance.
Kate was joined on guitar by 18 year old Ukrainian Kate Pavlenko. They performed a second 1980s piece, Mario Gangi’s ‘Suite Italiana’. With its Turkish - influenced opening themes the work moved lightly and rapidly, transitioning into beautiful, lyrical, harp-like, glistening music. Two tremendously accomplished young guitarists, playing with great delicacy, precision and coordination through a difficult but hugely rewarding piece.
A thunderous piano performance followed from 17 year old Cypriot Anna Avramidou – musicianship of the highest order from an incredibly skilful young pianist. She rattled through Scarlatti’s sonata in F sharp major with flamboyance and at times incredible speed, almost approaching a loss of control. But Anna succeeded brilliantly in resolving this challenging piece. The famous Chopin Sonata in B flat Minor followed, with its doom laden ‘death march’ – sorrow never to be ignored but juxtaposed by the chaotic, headlong Scherzo which preceded it. The strange, evocative finale was beautifully executed bringing an exciting performance to a deeply satisfying resolution.
Great pianists have appeared at the Music Festival and this amazing young musician can stand proudly alongside all of them.
The performance by 19 year old Ukrainian Shlomi Shahaf, a BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist, was astonishing and incendiary. In the Bach Sonata no. 1 in G Minor he combined deep lyrical beauty and flair while maintaining Bach’s metronomic rhythm even in the more challenging passages. The Debussy Sonata for Violin and Piano was skilfully played and reflected the pain and anguish from his homeland in the dark, angular passages, especially in the second movement. Shlomi’s finale was truly wonderful. He performed the incredibly difficult showstopper, Bazzini’s ‘Dance of the Goblins’ with pizazz, great showmanship and outrageous skill – this took real nerve but we were never in doubt that he would pull it off.
This was a wonderful concert which will live long in the memory.
Jeff Baker
Saturday 27th September - Homage to Grappelli
A Sarratt Jazz event with the Chris Garrick Quintet – a triumph filled with musical excitement! Many of the audience had been delighted and amazed by Chris Garrick’s previous visits, so expectation was high. The ‘Homage to Grappelli’ did not disappoint. To see and hear such accomplished musicians was a true pleasure honouring and celebrating the versatility of the maestro of the jazz violin.
As band leader, Chris with his easy manner and humour expertly revealed the individual talents of the four other players. Andy Crowdy gave great rhythmic support and wonderful entertainment on his splendid double bass. Eddie Hession calmly produced magic from his button accordion with flying fingers. Jez Cook was outstanding on his guitar and Tom Hooper for his physicality on drums and percussion. These musicians are much in demand all over the world – we are so lucky to see them in Sarratt Village Hall.
It is hard to find the necessary superlatives for the brilliance of Chris Garrick’s wonderful and unusual improvised techniques on his violin. Dazzling just about expresses the virtuosity, dexterity and speed. Before the interval we were treated to some exciting African rhythms. These were passed from the violin and repeated by each player – exchanging fours, then threes, twos, and ones. This was a humorous and entertaining conclusion to the first half. The second half of the performance was equally entertaining – the interaction of the players continued, enabling all to shine. This created a dynamic and thrilling atmosphere throughout the programme.
Thanks to Chris and his group for so much pleasure, and true and respectful ‘Homage to Stephane Grappelli’.
Pat Newton
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse