PIANO RECITAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27011, 10 April 1953, Page 13

PIANO RECITAL

SONATAS BY HAYDN AND BEETHOVEN Yesterday’s lunch-time concert at Canterbury University College was given by a pianist, Henry Campbell. He played a Sonata in D major by Haydn and Beethoven’s Sonata in E flat, opus 7. The former, a charming work, was gresented with precision and facility, lear phrasing resulted from clean articulation. Tonal quality and gradations were carefully produced, and only rhythmic intelligibility was marred, on occasions, by excessive speed. But the spirit of the music and the sense of style were admirably captured. This performance would be judged good in any company. Beethoven’s sonata is much broader m scope. Its dynamic and emotional range is enclosed by wider horizons. Mr Campbell emphasised these characteristics in a reading of the score that was mature in understanding. Only in the opening of the slow movement did the rhythm flag. In matters of tone, clarity and phrasing, the performance was always competent arid, in passages, outstanding. Particularly impressive was the first movement.

Mr Campbell will leave for England this year. If it is true to say that the more one knows, the more one can learn during such a visit, then it is fair to conclude that he will benefit to as great an extent as most of the other musicians who have left this country on similar missions. J.A.R.