Surges of energy by top musicians

8:18am Wednesday 27th February 2008

PERRINS Hall was an ideal venue for this recital with the acoustic of the spacious hall giving a warm resonance.

The chosen programme was perfect and began with Schubert's Violin Sonata in A.

The composer's refined beauty was apparent immediately as the violin soared, and soon the racing pianist was joined by the staccato violinist.

Surges of energy swept through the Presto, then a lovely lilting tune for Andantino, before the glorious singing and dancing by the musicians in the closing Vivace.

Next we were treated to a soul-stirring romantic interpretation of Franck's Violin Sonata in A. In the first Allegretto, Blackmore revealed the wonderful French harmonies while Bochmann presented fragments of wistful melody. Passion grew and the outstanding partnership the two Michaels have developed was obvious. As the Allegro progressed, the huge sound of the piano and airborne violin scaled heights of breathless fervency.

The violin's opening soliloquy and wonderful variations of sound each produced in the third movement, and a powerful finale, tempi and dynamics well-judged, imitative entries clear, realized a masterful delivery.

Three pieces by local composer Ian Venables showed Pastorale and Romance with lovely legato melodies from Bochmann, while Blackmore provided the harmony.

Dance was one of incessant throbbing rhythm ending in a whirl. Several short pieces by Elgar, Kreisler and Poldini completed the concert, apart from two encores for the very appreciative audience.

Jill Hopkins

Editor's choice