Early-music recital

Press, 1 October 1983, Page 8

Early-music recital

Colleen Rae-Gerrard (fortepiano) and Glynne Adams (viola and viola d’amore) presented by the Early Music Society at St Alban’s Methodist/Church. September 30, 8.15 pan. Reviewed by Philip Norman. The Early Music Society continued its good work in disinterring the music and instruments of the ancients with a recital last evening featuring the forte-piano and Ihe vVfola d’amore. The early classical period was thetopic. in size te a viola, similar in .construction to a viol, and owes something to the sitar with its 14-strings, seven of which are' left alone to gjgSSSw

Adams the instrument articulates as clearly and as easily as the modern viola. The opening movement of Ariosti’s Sonata No. 2 in A; major showed to good effect 1 : the facility the instrument has for rapid and wide arpeggio figures (in range the viola d’amore spans the compass of both the violin and viola). A .solo virtuosic piece entitled. “La Chase” deomonstrated the wide range of colour the instrument can produce; with the sympathetic strings, doublestopping produces a remarkably full sound, and its natural harmonics produce a wonderful crystal ring. The forte-piano is the forerunner or the modern piano. It is the instrument of Mozart’s day and to hear . a Mozart, sonata on the Jerte-piano is to gain a.“ whole new perspective of ■

the keyboard music of this, great master. Colleen Rae-Gerrard’s performance of the well known Sonata in A minor (K. 310 was memorable for its freshness of sound, its clean delivery, and its tenderly drawn middlemovement andante.

Together, Glynne Adams and Colleen Rae-Gerrard make a formidable recital team as was most evident in the sparkling and well considered performances of Sonata in D major by Stamitz and Sonata in E flat major by Hummel. For the latter work, and for W. F. Bach’s Sonata in C minor, Glynne Adams switched to the viola. Paradoxically, his viola *is in fact older than his viola d’amore. • The Bach and the Hummel brought the excellent recital a pleasing close.