Forum Theatre, Malvern – 17th November 2024
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
Another night in the heart of the Midlands and the musical firmament is once more ablaze courtesy of Malvern Concert Club’s immaculate programming and the fabulous artists who grace the stage of Malvern Theatres! Tonight’s stellar musical offerings span the early to late Romantic eras with a piece from last Century thrown in for good measure (and variety), giving us 4 top notch Violin Sonatas to savour.
First up was Franz Schubert’s Sonata in A D.574 Grand Duo. From the composer’s early period, Beethoven looms large over the work in much the same way as the picturesque Malvern Hills dominate the town’s skyline.
Our performers this evening were Maria Włoszczowska on violin and Alasdair Beatson on piano. I was mightily impressed from the first instant, from the opening notes, how tight a unit they were. They had an almost telepathic connection and an obvious rapport with lots of eye contact. There was clearly a very fond connection between them – and it showed in the joy of performing together which they brought to the concert platform. Ms Włoszczowska wowed me with the facility she showed as she shot around the fingerboard, making the fast, florid runs seem light and easy – which, of course, they were anything but easy to execute. Her tone was gorgeous and the quiet held notes were exquisite! Mr Beatson had equal command over his instrument and technique. I loved his shifts in dynamics with those enormous, hall filling chords positively erupting from the Steinway to thrilling effect – taking full advantage of the Pianoforte (soft and loud).
Fauré’s Violin Sonata No.2 in E minor Op.108 concluded the first half of the concert. Written in 1917, it is very typical of early 20th Century French music. That’s not to denigrate it in any way, as I adore the dreamy, folky quality that era evokes. The duo played the piece beautifully, giving us a reading both full of wistful tenderness and regretful melancholy. A sumptuous feast for the ears.
Schubert Sonata in A minor D.385 opened the second half with another classic of the genre. A fabulously romantic work from the teen wonderkid, the musicians wrung every ounce of emotion out of this passionate, youthful outpouring. I was particularly taken with the heart wrenching middle movement and the explosive “everything but the kitchen sink” ending that Keith Moon would have been proud to finish a set with. Sensational.
But, for me, the best was yet to come as proceedings concluded with the stunning Sonata for violin and piano in E flat, Op.18 by Richard Strauss. Pyrotechnics, a plethora of even more heartbreaking melodies and a veritable blizzard of notes battling with crashing chords gave us all we could wish for and more to conclude this wondrous night’s celebration of the Violin Sonata!
An absolutely faultless display from the musicians who should be incredibly proud of themselves for giving us such thrilling readings. Malvern Concert club proves once again to be the gift that keeps giving. They truly deserve our support and I, for one, can’t wait for their next Concert.