Polished trio recital

Press, 14 July 1980, Page 4

Polished trio recital

"By

PHILIP NORMAN

Marta Hidy (violin), Zdenek Konicek (cello), and Maurice Till (piano), gave their final recital in a series of three'at the Teachers’ College auditorium yesterday. The recital was the penultimate opportunity for Christchurch audiences to hear Miss Hidy and Mr Konicek: before they complete their terms as artists-in-residence at the University of Canterbury. String ; playersof,-their calibre are worth listening, to; Vif only because such opportunities ; are all too; infrequent Much 1 can be iearnL-frpm observing : their technique -and their im- ; peccable musicianship on

questions of interpretation, particularly phrasing. Miss Hidy’s attack was decisive, and her melodic lines were confident and positive; bold, but never aggressive. In this respect her violin was a little unmatched by the ’cello — on occasions a lack of clarity in the lower line affected the fine balance between the instruments. >-

The recital opened with Haydn’s Trio in G Major, a charming work memorable for the flamboyant violin writing in the 2 final presto. If the first movement was marred a little, by occasional disparities inE | rhythm between the strings and the piano, it was soon forgotten l

with the cohesion in the final movement. Schubert’s Piano Trio in B-flat Major was competently and expressively performed, but. suffered through odd patches of suspect pitching. Piano Trio in B Major, by Brahms, concluded the recital. The polish and vigour of the final allegro was a fitting climax to the programme, chamber music as it should be performed. Here the empathy of the players with their material was at its most obvious.

Marta Hidy, Zdenek Konicek, and Maurice Till will present a farewell .recital at the Town Hall Auditorium on July 23. ’