UNIVERSITY RECITAL

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31753, 9 August 1968, Page 12

UNIVERSITY RECITAL

Three Student Pianists

Three students of Mr Maurice Till played pianoforte solos at a lunch-hour concert in the University Hall yesterday afternoon. Miss Suzanne Purnell began a most pleasing programme with a prelude from an English Suite in G minor by Bach. She played with a lively flowing rhythm and with bright tonal quality. Some of the figuration was a bit blurred at the beginning. This was a piece which would have sounded better on a harpsichord. Mr Guy Donaldson played Rhapsody in B minor. Op. 39 No. 1, by Brahms and produced clearly ringing tone, well modulated expressively, and clean in line. He varied his timbres intelligently to suit the changing moods of the work. He followed this with a notturno by Benjamin Britten, a work of gently changing colours, interesting harmonic texture, and poetic depth—and Mr Donaldson brought out all these qualities in his interpretation. Mr Colin Hendry played "Oiseaux Tristes,” by Ravel, with splendidly clear touch and a good choice of tonal values. This was a skilfully prepared performance. In Chopin’s Ballade in A flat he played with confidence and clear rhythm. He can produce a powerful sound without los. ing good quality and he interpreted the work intelligently. Miss Purnell ended the programme with two nocturnes by Chopin, the B flat minor, Op. 9, and the C sharp minor, Op. 27. She played with singing tones which floated pleasantly through the hall, and she showed a delicate finesse in phrasing. —C.F.B.