Festival Theatre, Malvern – 26th April 2026
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
Malvern Concert Club always treat us to a spectacular evening’s entertainment with the brightest stars. Tonight was extra special with the visit of Isata Kanneh-Mason. I missed her last visit so was determined to catch her this time. And boy she didn’t disappoint.
The evening began with Beethoven’s Sonata No.2, Op.27, nicknamed “Moonlight” as the opening movement’s rippling effect reminded one early critic of moonlight reflecting off Lake Lucerne. I adored Isata’s control, with a barely contained smouldering intensity that did the work full justice. And in the last movement the passions were fully unleashed in a technically dazzling display that was truly thrilling. At the interval I overheard fellow attendees contemplating whether she possessed seven fingers per hand. I can understand why, given the rapidity of that third movement.
It is always welcome when artists give some background to the pieces we’re hearing – and it was lovely to see Isata carry on that tradition. She outlined an overarching journey from darkness into light, or evening through to dawn breaking – wetting the appetite for the music to come.
Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit was only known to me by title and reputation. As the programme noted: the composer deliberately set out to make a technically demanding work. All the more impressive, then, that Isata made her performance so seemingly effortless. That impassioned impressionism so evocative of early 20th Century classical works was present of course and the elegant filigree passages depicting the water nymph was to die for. Sumptuous.
After the interval we were regaled with a work and composer I hadn’t encountered before – Dobrinka Tabakova. Inspired by witnessing a Halo around the moon on a balmy summers evening, Nocturne and Halo was a microcosm of tonight’s programme – coming out of darkness, light forming and ending on the mature halo. It was an interesting piece that looked like it demanded some stamina to maintain the rapid repetitive figures – and again our star tonight was more than up to the task. Some lovely crunchy chords and unusual effects (including using the elbow to silently depress keys so as to allow some intensely quiet harmonics) were just a couple of the highlights that delighted.
Beethoven’s Sonata No.21, Op.53 Waldstein concluded the programme in dazzling style. Very much saving the best till last with a final movement that needs no introduction and brought the house down! It is considered one of Beethoven’s greatest and most technically challenging piano sonatas and yet Isata never broke a sweat or looked anything but her graceful self. And this, despite a fully committed performance when for many of the crashing chords she was up off her piano stool, really digging in. A visual treat as well as an auditory delight.
The audience did not want to let Isata go – which tells the tale of the evening. We loved her! But, after a short encore of another sparkling piece (I wish she’d introduced it so I could revisit it again), the evening sadly concluded. Another incredible evening concluding another successful season for Malvern Concert Club. Their next season can’t come soon enough for this attendee.