Clarinet recital

Press, 30 April 1984, Page 8

Clarinet recital

Mark Walton (clarinet) with lola Shelley (piano) at the Centre Gallery, Arts Centre, April 29, 3 p.m. Reviewed by Philip Norman. With his relaxed manner and polished playing, Mark Walton easily charmed the small gathering of concertgoers at the Centre Gallery yesterday afternoon. The occasion was a solo recital, with pianist lola Shelley, notable for its good humour and variety of fare. The well balanced programme comprised Rameau’s Suite for Clarinet and Piano (transcribed from a harpsichord suite), Stravinsky’s “Three Short Pieces for Clarinet Solo,” Brahms s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in E flat, Poulenc’s S«iata for Clarinet, the adal giVfrom Mozart’s Clarinet

Concerto, and a curious collection of oddball works for clarinet and piano rarely aired inside a concert hall. In this latter category, a piece of vintage Victoriana entitled “Fantasy on Spring,” by Joseph Waterson, shone for its virtuosic exposition on the most vacuous of subjects. As an example of glittering trivia it was in a class of its own, and provided an entertaining close to the programme. In. the up-tempo "Con brio,” by Horovitz, and “Little Rock Getaway,” by Joe Sullivan, Mark Walton showed more than a nodding acquantance with jazz rhythms and mannerisms. lola Shelley, too, showed herself to be a pianist of some facility, capable of boogying with a lively

swing feel. However, it was in the more serious works that Mark Walton excelled. His rich, firm tone and assured technique came to the fore in his impressive reading of the Brahms sonata. Excellent breath control and a superb sense of phrasing were memorable features of his liquid performance of Mozart’s “Adagio.” The highlight of the recital was the spirited presenation of Poulenc’s sonata. From the springing rhythms of the opening movement through the syrupy melodies of the second to the frisky nature of the third, both Mark Walton and lola Shelley remained firmly in control of the work, pacing it wet with admirable energy Sid vigour.