Gig-a-Blog™ (Gudrun Edwards and Sally Mays, St Anne & St Agnes)

Friday, 9 May 2008

Gudrun Edwards, violin; Sally Mays, piano: Mozart, Sonata in G major K301; Strauss, Sonata in Eb Major, Op. 18.

Mozart

1. A very satisfying dialogue between violin and piano. Good balance, hurrah, thus proving that the lid position isn't all - it helps when the pianist plays in a proper partnership, positioning the pair for a pretty perfect performance.
2. Lovely, contrasting sections - is this a rondo or something? Well is it? Why am I so hopeless at listening to music? Tsk!

An extremely pleasant sonata for a nice sunny lunchtime.

Strauss

1. Magnificent, massive, symphonic
2. Ah, blessed simplicity, lovely lovely. Though of course there's more complexity just round the corner.
3. The piano introduction here is just wonderful. Then off into a full-blown exhibition of Straussian splendour - with a nice tinkly quiet bit nearer the middle. Then it all gets going again and via all sorts of excitement we eventually arrive at a colossal symphonic ending.

A great recital from an excellent duo. Thank you very much.