Reviews and musings on music and arts events in the Clare, Limerick & Waterford regions & occasionally further afield
Music and Reviews from Clare, Limerick, Waterford and sometimes further afield
Friday, April 24, 2015
Convincing Crusaders: Sidorova and Avital at Waterford City Hall
There is something so ephemeral about the notes emanating from the instruments heard at City Hall, Waterford last night. The diminutive mandolin, produces the most fragile of string timbres demanding quite furious finger plec action to keep the sound waves aloft. We don't think of the accordion as being delicate but from the first squeeze on the bellows, the sound is on a countdown to extinction. The collision of these two vaguely deliquescent musical forces is a rare enough occurrence. The combination mixed with double measures of the platform charisma of Avi Avital and Ksenija Sidorova proved an explosive cocktail.
Much of the first half presented a fresh take on familiar violin repertoire. Most of it worked brilliantly. Bartok's Romanian Dances sounded as though they might have been original conceived for such a duo.The familiar gems of De Falla's Spanish Dances shimmered and Kreisler's Prelude and Allegro lost some of it's pomposity- no bad thing at all. Only in a Bach Partita transcribed for solo mandolin, was I conscious of the limitations of pizzicato strings to produce the sostenuto needed to fully express the depth of Bach's Chaconne
Ian Wilson
Composer, Ian Wilson was in The Large Room to introduce his piece Spilliaerts Beach, a neo- impressionistic musical response to the painting Moonlit Beach by the Belgian painter. Wilson has two pieces premiering next week, at Drogheda and Cork Choral Festival.
Schnittke sounded a bit daunting
Not a bit.
Soloists with Latvian guests
Revis Fairytale was a smashing showcase for solo accordion evoking the humour and pathos of Gogol's stories, delivered with great charm and flair by Sidirova. Then it was off to a more grown up milieu of Buenos Aires nightlife for a slice of Piazzola's, Tango Nuove The final concerto by 20th century composer Budashkin gave both a chance to show off their impressive virtuosity and drew the audience to their feet. Following sustained applause there was a Czardas lollipop before the charismatic duo were released from the podium to meet audience members.
Photo Plaza Waterford Peter Crann
With their great flair, skill and charm, Sidirova and Avital are bright sparks on the classical music scene and convincing crusaders for these somewhat exotic instruments. A wonderful, entertaining finale to the 73rd Waterford-Music season.
Béla Bartók (1881- 1945) Romanian Folk Dances Jocul cu Bâtă | Brâul | Pe Loc | Buciumeana | Poarga Românească | Mărunţel
Manuel de Falla (1876–1946) From “Siete Canzoni Popolari Spagnole” 6 Canzoni Popolari Spagnole El Paño Moruno | Asturiana | Jota | Nana | Canción | Polo
J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750) Partita BWV 1004 in D minor / Chaconne Fritz Kreisler (1875 - 1962) Prelude and Allegro Ian Wilson Spilliaert's Beach
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