BEWDLEY FESTIVAL

IT is always a pleasure and a privilege to hear the most talented Lloyd Webber brother, and on Sunday evening he gave a display of how the cello should be played.

Introducing each item, with the odd anecdote, the recital began with a sensitive performance of Bach's Adagio in G.

The maestro explained how he came across the manuscript of Frank Bridge's Scherzetto, which was written in 1902, and received its first performance 77 years later.

Britten's lively Scherzo-Pizzicato for Cello, was played completely pizzicato. This must have been difficult to play for both cellist and piano accompanist Rebecca Woolcock, as there were some odd tempi.

Lloyd Webber gave a masterful performance of the sublime Elegy by Faure, gliding from strong to gentle tones with apparent ease but the piano was a little heavy at times in this item.

An amazing number of sounds were produced by the cello in Debussy's Cello Sonata 1915, with other instruments depicted.

After the interval we heard a lovely Nocturne, written by his father, William, in 1948 and given to his son shortly before he died.

Brahms' Cello Sonata in E Minor op 38, probably the most exacting piece in the programme, needs someone of this virtuosity to do it justice, Ms Woolcock was also impressive in the final movement.

We were then treated to three encores. The first, Jackie's Song, written by JLW in memory of the late Jacqueline du Pr, is a beautiful piece of music.

Next was a Variation by brother Andrew, and the evening ended with Dvorak's Songs My Mother Taught Me, bringing a wonderful evening to a close.

VJS