UNIVERSITY RECITAL

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 6

UNIVERSITY RECITAL

Peter Cooper plays

Mr Peter Cooper played works by Chopin, Debussy, and Liszt in the University Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr Cooper has strongly disciplined technical powers which smooth away every difficulty, leaving him free to produce without strain all that his poetic mind finds in the music. Tones which sang in lovely quality with carrying vibrancy, all beautifully contrasted in expression and with delicate nuances shaped in telling phrasing, marked his imaginate playing of this romantic programme. From Chopin’s works he played the Ballade in F minor, the mazurkas in C sharp minor. E minor and G major, and the Study in G flat. Op. 10. All these were stylishly played. Sometimes it seemed that some clarity was sacrified to speed. Both the Etude No. II and “The Goldfish” by Debussy were played with vivid colouring and appreciation of their atmospheres. Mr Cooper’s use of tenderly singing tone and his flexible playing of fast and soft runs were aptly demonstrated in “Ricordanza” by Liszt. Technical brilliancies of many types were fully catered for in the same comI poser’s Paganini Etude in E flat 'major. “La Campanella” made a fitting encore and; was played with striking elan. —C.F.B.