Viola recital not 'easy listening

Press, 11 August 1979, Page 9

Viola recital not 'easy listening

By

C. FOSTER BROWNE

Marise White gave a viola recital in the University School of Music as part of her final examination for the degree of Bachelor of Music. She showed that she has a strong and flexible command of the instrument tonally and can produce sounds ranging from a delicate but lively pianissimo to a broad and strong fortissimo. The programme consisted of two works — a Suite by Slonimski, a young Russian composer, bom in 1932; and a Sonata by Karl Holler, bom in 1907. The Slominski work which did not make for attractive listening, consisted of four movements but played as one. It had grip and direction, needing wide control of volumes and* of tonal colourings. Miss White piaved

with confidence. There was a nostalgic feeling about the work, but challenge as well, and it seemed that it would make friends of listeners, given time. The work by Karl Holler has a background of organ music and incorporates a fugal subject taken from Hindemith’s Second Organ Sonata. It hung together well and, again, though not immediately attractive, it had plenty of material to hold interest. Both Miss White, and her pianist, lola Shelley, played with security and feeling for shape and mean-i ing. lola Shelley, unperturbed; by the grinding and graunching sounds she frequently was called upon to produce, gave a consistent injerpretation and was lalways in sympathy with her fellow artist.