LUNCH-TIME CONCERT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 18 September 1959, Page 14

LUNCH-TIME CONCERT

Recital By Miss Lola Johnson

Miss Lola Johnson, of Wellington, who gave the recital at the lunch-time concert in the University Hall yesterday, possesses a splendid technique. The fluency of her playing and her care for expression gave it a sort of cohesion and colour which enabled her to play romantic music in a convincing style. The lack of variety in the pieces detracted somewhat from the interest of the concert, but it was a fine exhibition of pianistic skill. The musical content of the recital was somewhat uneven. There is not a great deal of artistic merit in Liszt’s Legende: “St. Francis Walking on the Water,” though its technical difficulties seem to have challenged the attention of some famous players. Miss Johnson performed it with more success than some visiting pianists have done; she depicted a real storm, and above it, and somewhat independent of it. a serene figure. Again, Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli’s “Danse d’Olaf” has little to commend it except a certain rhythmic interest.

The programme opened with Haydn’s Fantasie in C. Miss Johnson played it carefully enough, but it lacked something of the good humour that one associates with Haydn and that could have made up for its discursive form. The Schumann “Abegg” Variations were much more attractive to listen to. The composition is uneven, but much of it is fresh and expressive, with charming figuration and crossrhythms; and Miss Johnson’s fluent playing set the whole work out well.

Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G sharp minor, and his “Barcarolle" provided the occasion with some light and graceful playing, and these were the most grateful listening of the whole recital. The concert ended with Granado’s Allegro de Concierto, a rather undistinguished piece which was played with as much musicianship as it would bear. The programme in general was full and exacting, and Miss Johnson carried it through without flagging. Her playing was vigorous, but the tone did not suffer, and was always pleasing. —K.H.