Franks, Pearl shine in recital

Press, 21 April 1977, Page 6

Franks, Pearl shine in recital

By C. FOSTER BROWNE The "Wednesday at One” recital yesterday at the At s Centre attracted an unusually, large audience. Jocelyn Perry and Dobbs, Franks opened the recital playing Mendelssohn’s So-i nata for Viola and Piano. ! This, while it did not have! much of great importance to ( say. sang clearly and tidily. Miss Perry’s sorter tones in the first movement seemed to lack life and interesting quality, but in the happy minuetto and in the wellrounded phrasing in the lat movemert, a well-constructed ,et of variations, she produced exciting and glowing tone. A Sortatine for Trumoet and Piano by Martinu, played by John Snelgrove andDobbs Franks, had its ex-' citing moments, but the: writing did not compel ab-j sorbed attention. Mr Snel-| grove plays with lively tone of good quality and keeps a buoyant rhythm, and has a. control over the instrument, which allows for subtle ex-1 pression and for nuance in; phrasing. Mozart's Sonata for! 1 Violin and Piano, K. 296. was i

played by Ruth Pearl and Dobbs Franks—giving us one more in the series of these beautiful works we are hearing from them in this set of concerts. The allegro vivace which began the sonata was played with strongly compacted tone, of undoubted vitality and grace of movement. There was singing violin tone, vibrantly challenging, and the balance between the instruments in colour and expression in continually exchanged material was never dimmed. The stylish understanding and grace encountered from these players should be an inspiration to all students, no matter what their instru- 1 ment might be.

The second movement had ■an elegaic melody, serious i but never dull. The phrasing 'was tenderly coloured and at times strong feelings were shown but they soon subsided leaving peaceful and quiet atmosphere. There was a bubbling over of happiness encountered again in the Rondo. This was played with strongly vibrant tone, brilliant and clear, especially towards the riotous end which seemed to gather together again ail the previous excitements.