The chamber ensemble Scherzando gave an intriguing recital at The Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin, Isle of Man on Sunday May 10th before a small but enthusiastic audience. The combination of two violins, ‘cello and piano – William Pickering and Sue Harris-Cohen, violins, Andrew Hughes, ‘cello, and the well-known Manx musician Fenella Bazin, piano – proved to be flexible enough to lend plenty of variety to the programme.
The first half consisted of music from the Baroque, beginning with one of Corelli’s lyrical trio sonatas, a trio sonata by Handel and Arne’s English contemporary William Boyce and concluding with the variations based on the popular 17th and 18th century tune known as La Folia, by Vivaldi, a thoroughly entertaining piece requiring considerable virtuosity, which the ensemble played with characteristic panache.
A feature of some of the music in the first half was that it was performed on a trio of matching instruments by the Liverpool luthier Jan Shelley, which sounded full and rich in tone.
Andrew Hughes, ’cello, gave a stylish performance of the first ‘cello suite in G minor by Bach, and throughout the programme proved to be a sensitive player who frequently displayed an easy virtuosity. Sue Harris-Cohen then played Svendsen’s well-known Romance for violin and piano, and was joined by William Pickering in what proved to be a real surprise of the evening, the slow movement of Sinding’s sonata for two violins and piano. Op. 92, a work of considerable power and intensity. Shostakovitch’s tongue-in-cheek Five Pieces for two violins and piano brought to a close an entertaining and thought-provoking evening in the company of some very fine musicians.
Throughout, Fenella Bazin’s continuo playing, and finely nuanced accompaniments in the second half, were a constant delight.
Andrew Hughes can be heard again on the Island performing Haydn’s C major ‘cello concerto at the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert at St Ninian’s Church, Douglas, on Saturday evening July 12th. The concert, conducted by Maurice Powell, also includes Beethoven’s Eroica symphony.
Scherzando will be joined by members of the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra to form the Scherzando String Ensemble at Peel Cathedral, Isle of Man, on Sunday July 20th at 7.00pm as part of the Island of Culture 2014 series of concerts and recitals, conducted by Maurice Powell. The programme will include music by Mozart, Elgar and Vivaldi, and Tchaikovsky’s gorgeous Serenade for Strings.
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