FALLOT DUO

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 7

FALLOT DUO

Superb Mastery Shown Guy and Monique Fallot, ’cellist pianist, played in the Civic •ftjeatrfc on Saturday evening, ifcere was a large attendance of numbers of the Chamber Music Society—they now very nearly fill the Civic Theatre and it must have been only very rare m the experience of those present to have heard ’cello playing that woflld equal that of Guy Fallot- Monique Fallot also is an accomplished musician, sensitive to tonal colour, and has sure command over many styles of interpretation. Together they are a superbly musical duo who have mastery of the works they play. Difficulties which abound in such a work as the Brahms F major Sonata were surmounted with consummate ease, and throughout the whole programme there was an outpuring of glorious tone and excitingly vital interpretations. While there was nothing in their interpretations which showed anything suggesting a lack of mature experience, there did seem to be a heightened joy in thair readings which could come from the vivacity of two young people of quite exceptional talent. ' The strength and vibrancy of the tone which Guy Fallot produces from that very beautiful •cello is astonishing, and the crisp staccato playing of Monique Fallot was something to be remembered. The programme began with a Bach Air, played with strictly classical line, followed by Schumann’s “Fantasiestucke” and Beethoven’s Sonata in F major which unfolded with solemn grandeur. Then came Debussy’s D minor Sonata in which he does hot —as might be expected—explore the more dreamy possibilities of the ’cello but gives us a strong and bell-like work, joyous and exuberant, demanding and getting playing of great power and intensity.

After the interval Brahms’s Sonata in F major was played, and we heard a seemingly inexhaustible variety of romantic tonal colouring from the ringing sounds of the stormy opening, through the gracious and peaceful strains of the second movement, the angry questing music of the third, through to the triumphant glory of the last movement.

As an encore a Spanish Dance by Granados brought a wonderful concert to an end. —C.F.B.