University recital

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 4

University recital

Mr Keith Lewis, accompanied by Miss Nan Anderson, sang five songs by John Dowland at the beginning of a lunch-hour concert at the

University Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr Lewis has a tenor voice of charming quality, of wide range, and of admirable evenness of production. He sang the Dowland songs with shapely phrasing and commendable clarity of words. “Unquiet Thoughts” might well have been sung a little more gently and there was a tendency to swallow some of the vowels. There was a more even line in “Sleep Wayward Thoughts”—a very lovely song. “Rest Awhile" is a song wherein Dowland shows his considerable dramatic talents, subtle and yielding secrets only by persuasion. Generally, the essence of these songs would have been more strongly realised by more lyrical approach. Miss Anderson’s playing of the harpsichord was stylish and satisfying. Chloe Moon, violinist, and Gwen Moon, pianist, played Beethoven’s Sonata in E flat major, Op. 12 No. 3. Mellow and glowing tone was heard from the violin. The exuberance of the first movement was brought out well on the piano, although there were times when left-hand playing seemed to upset balance. The slow movement was played with poise, feeling, and careful moulding of phrasing. The Rondo was played with freedom and with liveliness, giving a feeling of great joy and exultation. There were times when balance between the instruments could be questionable, but the spirit of the music | was never in doubt. It was pleasing to hear Mrs Moon’s playing once again. She has been away from the concert platform too long. —C.F.B.