Unusual recital

Press, 7 April 1978, Page 16

Unusual recital

By

C. FOSTER BROWNE

A big audience at the Arts Centre for the midday recital i well presented. John Snelgrove (trumpet), with Dobbs Franks playing the string orchestra part on the piano, gave a performance of Telemann’s Trumpet Concerto which had bright and joyful movement and a grace typical of the composer. Just at times the volume of the trumpet and its direct attack on the ear in a-i small hall had rather a hard) sound. Unusual but delightful effect was created by Nancy | Haber’s playing of a harp sonata by Hindemith. This work, rarely heard because of the difficulty of finding anyone who can play it, was fascinatingly interesting, and was played with rare command of the instrument. Mrs Haber is a harpist of distinction, and we are very lucky to have her here to play this and, we hope, very!

many more pieces of the same attraction. Unusual chords, held unI dampened in the first move- ' ment, gave strangely charmling effect. In the second [movement there was music lof a certain lethargy and : delicately trickling nature. jThe last movement had rich isonorities, and the whole work was played with confident security. • : Ruth Pearl always gives ' completely satisfying rend- ! ering of a Beethoven violin sonata, and it is our good fortune that she is going to play all of them in this series of recitals. Yesterday it was the second sonata, a work of charming design and of exquisite subtlety. Beautifully produced melodic tone from the violin made it the epitome of grace and dignity. The piano playing by Dobbs Franks was securely based and controlled by fitting sense 'of design and expressive purpose.