Concert Deserved Larger Audience

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31631, 18 March 1968, Page 14

Concert Deserved Larger Audience

Tessa Birnie, pianist, and a string quartet (Louis Yffer, Alan Foster, Marjorie Sutton, and Alan Chisholm) gave an interesting recital of seldomheard concerti in the University Hall last evening. For such a programme and for such pleasant playing there should have been a larger audience. Concerts on a Sunday evening should begin at 8.30 and not at 8 o’clock.

The programme began with a concerto in C minor by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, the most accomplished of Johann Sebastian’s sons. It was played with pleasing clarity and had an appealing lifting up of the spirit and a calm dignity.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, K 415, was played with glowing runs, beautifully shaped and graded in expression, in the first movement. The second movement had a serenely singing melody, tenderly flowing in decorated style. The third was a merry chase, with a brilliant piano part played with verve and shining clarity. The string quartet did sterling work and played with

good co-ordination and with appreciation of style. Their tonal balance was excellent.

A Divertimento in G major by Michael Haydn. Josef Haydn’s younger brother, was played by the string quartet. The opening allegro was based on scale patterns woven into open and clear texture and was played with very good rhythmk precision and clarity of line. The short slow movement had nothing of great import to say but spoke with a smile. The minuet had the courtly grace of its period, and the finale was played with merry exuberance. It is to be hoped that these players will continue to give us some string-quartet performances. Schubert’s Concerto in F major began in a mood of autumnal content, leading to the Rondo which had fireworks aplenty. This was played with gusto and Miss Birnie made the piano part fairly sparkle. The performance was received with great enthusiasm, and everyone present felt that the evening had been one of deep content. —C. F. B.