COMPOSITIONS BY SCHUBERT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 3

COMPOSITIONS BY SCHUBERT

RECITAL BY DORA AND GERHARD WILLNER

Schubert’s posthumously published Sonata in A major and his last group of songs comprised the programme at last night’s recital by Dora and Gerhard Willner. the second in a series of six which these two artists are giving at Canterbury College Hall. The excellent impression made by Mr and Mrs Willner at the previous recital was again sustained through their fine musicianship, especially attuned to i .e interpretation of Schubert’s music. The A major Sonata, played by Mr Willner, opened with storming, dissonant chords that were resolved into a flight of melodies developed at a breadth straining the confines of classical form. The contrast of this movement with the following andantino was well accentuated by Mr Willner. In the scherzo the music returned to a superficial happiness, belied by an undercurrent of sadness. The clearness with which Mr Willner had played the preceding movements was not so apparent this time, and the scherzo gave an impression of perfuctoriness. Mr Willner found himself again in the rondo, the melodic richness of which is always a pleasure. It was a virile interpretation, coming as near as possible to the spirit of music bv Schubert.

Mr Winner’s sensitive rubato brought life to the score, and his delicately adjudged touch allowed all the colour of this sonata to appear. The Swan Songs which Mrs Willner sang as the second part of the recital are actually not a homogeneous cycle. They were collected under this title to preserve Schubert’s last songs in a single group. The verse is uneven in quality, but Schubert could write great music to the evocative verse of Heine and also to the rather commonplace efforts of a Seidl and Reylstab. Of greatest interest among the songs were the declamatory ones, and Mrs Willner gave them a most satisfying performance. In particular may be mentioned “Atlas.” “Afar.” and “The Spectral Self.” Mrs Winner’s singing of Heder shows consummate artistry. The accompaniments. which were played by Mr Willner were always interestingly performed. Dr. Vernon Griffiths, through whose energy and enthusiasm the recitals at Canterbury College are arranged, told the large audience that this series of recitals depended upon the generosity of patrons of the arts like Mrs Walter J. Watson, who had sponsored last night’s concert. It is refreshing to know that there are in the community such discerning music lovers whose public spirit makes the performance of fine music possible. —H.S.K.K.