UNIVERSITY CONCERT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 18

UNIVERSITY CONCERT

’Cellist And Pianist

The programme at the lunch-hour concert in the University Hall on Thursday was provided by two students of the School of Music—Brian Sandle, ’cellist, and Suzanne Purnell, pianist. A sonata in E minor byVivaldi, arranged by Ticciati, opened’ with strong and resonant sounds from the ’cello. Mr Sandle produces attractively singing tone which keeps ring and vitality both in broadly sweeping melodies and in quickly-moving music such as was heard in the second and fourth movements of this sonata. He has a welldeveloped sense of the shaping of a phrase. Miss Purnell played the piano part with flowing phrasing in keeping with the style of the period, and with sympathetic expression. If at times her tone was a bit light for perfect balance with that of the ’cello, it was a fault on the right side. All her work had good clarity.

In the opening prelude of some Pieces en Concert by Couperin, Mr Sandle sustained the long phrases with tone that had pleasing bloom. The third of the set had a lively and infectious gaiety well captured by both performers. The music chosen could, for the most part, have had more variety of mood with greater effectiveness Both players put plenty of spirit into the last movement of the suite.

Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 102, No. 1, was opened with clean control of tone in gently reflective atmosphere. The Vivace movement which followed was played with brightly-sounding resonant tone and the adagio had tenderly caressing sounds produced with artistic sensibility. The final allegro vivace was dramatically played. The work for the recital was well prepared, and the playing was always precisely cohesive and intelligently interpreted. —C.F.B.