EROICA CLUB CONCERT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 13

EROICA CLUB CONCERT

Fine Programme Presented

The Eroica Club deserves, and will certainly ultimately get. the support of an aduience which will fill the Civic Theatre. Under Mr Ernest Empson’s erudite and artistic direction, the members present an attractive programme most competently performed. There was a good and appreciative audience at the concert on Saturday evening but there are many, people who are missing the pleasure which this club could give. Miss Alison Edgar began the programme with Busoni’s arrangement of Bach’s Chaconne. She showed technical command and appreciation of the work's architectural design and proportions. The many delicacies of her playing were more impressive than some of the massive passages, but that is true of the arrangement itself. Although this work is a wonderful transcription in that it interprets in the idiom of the new instrument, neverthe-

less the original work hangs together better and is more enjoyable. This is a difficult work with which to begin a programme. Perhaps on some future occasion

it could be preceded with some Scarlatti.

Miss Betty Owers played Beethoven’s Sonata in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3. She had strength of tone when needed, and a. pleasant and rippling tone in cantablile passages. There was bite in the scherzo and a gently singing tone was heard in the slow movement The last movement swung along with strongly marked rhythm.

Mr Bryony Gray, accompanied by Mr Ernest Emnson. sang five songs by Brahms. She has a flexible voice of sympathetic quality of tone. She showed excellent control of breathing in the long and extremely difficult phrases of “Feldeinsamkeit.” sang “Vergebliches Standchen” with animation, and “Wir Wandelten” with tenderness. A greater range of jpower than she has at present—and wisely does not try to achieve

—was needed for “O Liebliche Wangen.” Miss Barbara Hayes, in Chopin’s Fantasie in F minor, drew warm and mellow tones from the instrument with a colourful, sympathetic, and musical touch. This was beautifully poised playing which had crisp vitality and a clear sense of direction. She gave a most artistic and satisfying performance. Two Mazurkas by Chopin were plaved by Miss Janice McCahon

with delicate touch and good feeling for a phrase. William Langford. although young, is a pianist of most exciting promise. In his playing of Chopin’s Nocturne in D flat major there was excellent control of tone, phrasing, and expression. He has a gift, far and away beyond the average, of making the instrument sing under his touch. His control of nuances at pianissimo level was quite extraordinary and the rhythmic shaping of runs was a delight to hear. He gave a well-integrated and charming performance which would have graced anyone's recital. Miss Jennifer Levy captured the elusive atmosphere of Prokofiev’s “Visions Fugitive” and-controlled the somewhat angular “Gavotte” well.

Mr Christopher Gray held the interest of the audience in Ravel's lovely “Valley of the Bells” with beautifully controlled tone. He drew forth sonority without harshness and contrasted his levels of expression in a thoughtful way. There was sparkle and rhythmic verve in “Alborada del Gracioso.” It was a colourful and cleanly-shaped performance.

Khachaturian’s rather unattractive “Toccata” needs a concert .pianist-cum-village black-

smith to bring out it fiery clashes with the appropriate clangour. However. Mr Graeme Beaumont made a clean job of it. wisely keeping within the limits which he could control.

In two Preludes by Rachmaninoff Mr Henry Campbell gave us imaginative and poetic playing well imbued with romantic spirit. He gave a lively, imaginative, and atmospheric performance of the same composer’s “Humouresque.” exploring wide ranges of tone in unfailingly musical fashion. C.F.B.'