So summer’s finally come to Lichfield just in time for the opening of the Festival (clever staff for arranging it) but on a warm July morning the cool of the Lady Chapel was perfect to let a beautifully balanced programme of piano and violin duets unfold.
Glamorous pianist Chie Nagatani flew in from LA where she’s Professor of Piano and Theory to join fellow American Darin Qualls in this intriguingly-chosen trio of works by composers all of whom collaborated with genius impresario Diaghilev for his Ballet Russe.
Diaghilev suggested Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne to the composer as the basis for a new ballet, Pulcinella, drawing on an 18th century work supposedly written by Pergolesi. The 1933 version presented here was created solely for concert tours and this rendition proved it still works perfectly, wooing us with an elegantly seductive first movement before coming out more strongly in the Serenata as a prelude to the lively attack of the Tarantella.
The Gavotta by contrast was more stately, whereas the Scherzino suggested a virtuosa ballerina performing brilliantly en pointe. The Minuetto e Finale combined the noble and stately in a lively conclusion to this charming work.
Faure’s 1916 Sonata No.2 saw piano and violin interweave complex melodies in the Allegro, the piano sounding like rippling drops of bright water against the sinuous smoothness of the violin, both instruments gradually growing in power as the score became more demanding.
The Andante by contrast was all stately measured calm although a beautifully wistful note was to be heard through the violin against the limpid tones of the piano, its Final building to a powerfully beautiful ending.
Ravel’s 1927 Sonata was more recognisably modern from its strange, evocative Allegretto, sombre and introspective, to the Blues:Moderato with its jazz references that somehow seemed to prefigure “Summertime” and the musicianship of Stephane Grapelli.
The increasing complexity of the final Perpetuum mobile: Allegro movement ended with a flourish, crowning a concert that proved unusually stirring and thought-provoking for most of us so early in the day.
