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 Denise Leigh and
Stefan Andrusyschyn  |
Denise Leigh will be known to
many as the
soprano who won Operatunity, on Channel 4, during 2003, but she proved
to be equally at home in less-familiar English song and German lieder
as she was in well-known arias from opera and operetta, demonstrating a
flexible approach to vibrato that enabled her to address a diverse and
varied programme of works that ranged from the 15th to the 20th
century. It was therefore somewhat disappointing that the
event
had only managed to draw an audience of about sixty people.
She
was sensitively accompanied by Stefan Andrusyschyn who, in a change to
what had been advertised, used an accordion to accompany some items and
to insert a few solo works, rather than use the piano. I
suspect
that, if this had been given a wide press, audience numbers might have
ended up being smaller still, but the free-bass chromatic-button
instrument that he played turned out to be no ordinary accordion, and
he proved to be no ordinary accordionist, either. As a
result,
many people must have gone home having had their opening doubts about
the classical potential of the accordion completely swept away.
Paul A Moore
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RACHEL SMITH (flute) and JEAN KELLY (harp)
The Hilser Flute and Harp Duo provided an evening of quiet and refined music-making for Haywards Heath Music Society at Saint Wilfird's Church on Saturday, 23rd October 2010. In a comparatively short programme, Rachel Smith and Jean Kelly played a wide variety of original works and arrangements that featured French composers who had been associated with the Paris Conservatoire – Bizet, Debussy, Fauré, Gaubert, Ibert and Saint-Saëns – whilst Doppler and Zamara, Mozart and Piazzolla represented contrasting voices from further afield. As the modern Harp had been invented by Érard, the focus on music from France seemed entirely appropriate, so I was surprised to be left with the feeling that it was the arrangements of some of the more chromatic French works that had worked less well. Even so, this proved to be a successful concert that was clearly enjoyed by everyone who was present.
Paul A. Moore
CLARA BISS (violin), JAKOB FICHERT (piano), PAVLOS CARVALHO (cello)
An outstandingly brilliant concert of Chamber Music was provided for Haywards Heath Music Society at St Wilfrid's Church last Saturday evening, 27th November. The wide ranging programme was performed by a trio of internationally recognised, talented musicians: Pavlos Carvalho, 'cello; Clara Biss, violin; and Jakob Fichert, piano; forming the Manus Trio.
Their first item was Vitebsk by Aaron Copland, based on a Jewish theme "Dibuk" about a devilish character. After a strident and dramatic opening it continued with a vigorously driven and stressful development in which Jakob's pianistic skills were admirably demonstrated. The strings overlaid a more tranquil and meditative feeling until the roles were exchanged and the string players maintained the excitement leading to a finale which faded away into nothing. The audience were greatly impressed by their performance of this demanding and rather unusual innovative composition.
Next was Brahms' first Sonata for 'cello and piano op.38 in E minor. Whilst Brahms was musically conservative in many ways he too was also a very innovative chamber music composer for his time. In their performance of this delightful and romantic work both Pavlos Carvalho and Jakob Fichert admirably demonstrated innate musicality as well as technical mastery of their instruments. There was obviously a great rapport between them as they shared with the audience their love of this work.
The 'Meditation from Thais for violin and piano' by Jules Massenet, which comes at the end of the opera 'Thais' when, on the death of the heroine a former monk laments the loss of his faith and his lover. Clara Biss, on the violin, performed this well known and popular work with great feeling, sensitivity and freshness conveying fully the emotional intensity of the music. Jakob Fichert, on the piano, demonstrated his skill as a sympathetic accompanist, supporting Clara's performance admirably without intruding on her interpretation.
The group came together for the final item on the programme, Beethoven's 'Trio for piano, violin and 'cello op.l no.3 in C minor'. This group of young artistes obviously enjoyed playing a young composer's work full of gentleness and humour. They also demonstrated the careful preparation that had gone into this performance both in terms of its interpretation and the precision with which they made their entries and their togethemess for all the dynamics. The audience shared their enjoyment of this delightful work. They responded to these excellent performances with warm enthusiasm and long applause. The trio responded with an encore in a completely different mood, an Argentinian tango by Astor Piazzollo (arr.Jose Bragato) 'Primavera Portema', which captivated the audience but no-one actually joined in the dance, a rewarding end to an inspiring entertainment!
Derek & Gwyneth Paine
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Jeffrey Harris
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Those present at the latest concert in Haywards Heath Music Society’s current season were treated to a virtuoso piano recital of truly astounding brilliance.
The soloist was 24 year-old Jayson Gillham from Queensland who has made his home in London and performs throughout Europe, Australia and in New York. He has won major prizes in piano competitions at home and abroad to much critical acclaim. He came to the Society as an award winner in the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme.
The quality of his playing was breathtaking. In a programme comprising some of the major works of the piano repertoire ranging from Beethoven through Chopin, Brahms, Debussy, Liszt to Ligeti, he produced a seemingly effortless and formidable technique. But the sheer brilliance of his playing was never allowed to obscure the musical content which was evident at all times, helped by his sensitive use of dynamics.
The recital ended with Liszt’s Transcendental Etude in F Minor, a work of great technical difficulty which was delivered with dazzling ease. Jayson is one of the most exciting pianists on the musical scene today and the highly appreciative audience predicted a great future for him. Certainly a name to watch!
Christine Colbourne
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The 2010-2011 season at
Haywards Heath Music
Society concluded with a recital by the early music group Concert
Royal. The theme for this concert was Jane Austen’s Musical
England and the evening began with the song “The Highland
Laddie”, one of fifty-two Scottish pieces which Jane Austen
wrote
down in her music notebook.
Jane liked to sing and to play dances and several of the items heard during the evening were taken from her notebooks. The music, played on period instruments from the C18, transported us back to another age where if you wanted after-dinner entertainment you made it yourself. Lively country dances and folk songs interspersed with dramatised readings from Jane’s novels and letters made for a very pleasant evening, such as might have been enjoyed by Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet at Pemberley, or Mr Knightley and Emma Woodhouse at Highbury. Music played a huge role in a young lady’s life in the past. To be thought accomplished and to attract a husband it was an advantage to sing or play well. We know that Jane Austen practised every day before breakfast when she lived at Chawton. Reading her novels we can tell from frequent references that music played a large part in her life, and Concert Royal, through their very stylish and polished performances, paid tribute to one of the nation’s favourite authors. Christine Colbourne
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