Recitals to remember

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34104, 17 March 1976, Page 23

Recitals to remember

The final recital of the works of Brahms and Prokofiev was given by Wanda Wilkomirska and Janetta McStay in the James Hay Theatre yesterday afternoon. Their recitals have been among the very finest at this festival, and will long be remembered with gratitude. We shall have another opportunity of hearing Wanda > Wilkomirska on Saturday: evening when she will be playing the Szymanowski Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Charles Groves. ■

” The concert began with ;Miss Wilkomirska playing 11 Prokofiev’s Sonata for Solo J Violin, Op. 115. She began . with electrifying tone and jwith incisive attack. The f many difficulties of solo • violin playing seemed for her i 11 to be non-existent, and she gave us a sparkling and efj. fervescent performance. It is ! a lovely work, not over--complicated in its combination of themes, but partijcularly noteworthy for its economy’ of utterance while i having so much that is fascinating to say. Wide use was made of expression, with the smoothest changing of kaleidoscopic colourings. The playing was wonderfully poised and completely charming. The Brahms Violin Sonata

■ No. 3 in D minor began ; smoothly in an atmosphere of ■ glorious serenity. From both the piano and the violin, rich J melodies flowed in fascinating. phrasing. This was poetic; playing of the highest order,: of compelling sincerity, and of deepest insight. It would be hard to imagine two players more completely en rapport. There would not be much: point in taking the perform-' ance to pieces to enumerate: all the virtues. Suffice it to! say that each artist gave of her very best, and the composer’s messages came before us with all their musicianly acumen at its highest degree of polish. We cannot ask for, nor will we get, more than; that. C. Foster Browne. '