University Lunch-Hour Concerts Resumed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31943, 21 March 1969, Page 12

University Lunch-Hour Concerts Resumed

The series of university lunch-hour concerts began yesterday when Ruth Pearl and Dobbs Franks gave a violin and piano recital in the University Hall.

The programme began with a Mozart sonata, K. 379. Listening to Ruth Pearl is a privilege all too rarely enjoyed. Her playing is elegant and stylish, based on secure technical foundations and inspired by a poised and wellinformed artistry. Dobbs Franks is a pianist sensitive to the requirements of a fellow artist in ensemble work and faithful in keeping the piano part fully alive with vital touch and strongly shaped phrasing. The first movement was solemn and meditative in character at the start, and then burst forth in vigorous eclat. A set of shapely and well-turned variations followed, with a good deal of interest given to the piano part, played with rippling clarity. Four pieces by Webern .followed—early works they

were, creating strange attractive and often very faint sounds, making demands upon the imagination. Prokofiev’s Sonata Op. 89 began sonorously with mellow playing from both instruments in a low register. A strange section, with a chantlike melody from the piano against very soft and fluttering arpeggio played by the violin, was very attractive. The second movement, forceful and unyielding, was played with scintillating brilliance. The few contrasting moments of calm gave added point to the ferocious climax. The third movement was gently lyrical, flowing charmingly in misty swirlings; and the last movement burst forth triumphantly and brimmed over with irresponsible good spirits, but making mention of earlier themes towards tbe end and finishing quietly. There was a very large audience.