Lunchtime Recital – James Conway (cello) and Valentina Wang (piano)

Programme

G. Fauré – Romance Op. 69
L.V. Beethoven – 7 variations from Mozart’s Magic Flute
R. Schumann – Adagio and Allegro op 70
M. de Falla – Suite Populaire Espagnole
I. El paño moruno
II. Nana
III. Canciòn
IV. Polo
V. Asturiana
VI. Jota

A particularly captivating recital by James and Valentina where the interplay between piano and cello, James told us, conveyed the many aspects of the day’s theme of love.

James introduced each piece.

Fauré’s Romance in A major, was one of a small number of salon pieces he had written, originally for cello and organ, but reworked for the piano in 1894 to showcase his melodic and atmospheric writing. It had led to Debussy describing Fauré as the “Master of Charm”.

This was followed by Beethoven’s 7 variations from Mozart’s Magic Flute,  a duet between Pamina (piano) and Papageno (cello). A comical writing with an underlying solemnity as they sing of the divine nature of love expressed from the places of being loved and the unfulfilled desire to love.

Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro Op. 70 opens with a really intimate and sentimental Adagio with many exchanges between the two instruments but abruptly switches into a fast and fiery Allegro. Written in 1849 for piano and horn to demonstrate the newfound agility of the technological development of new valves for the French Horn it was so beautiful that it was “stolen” by the cello – to which James felt we would find it well suited (and he was right!).

Their final piece was de Falla’s Suite Populaire Espagnole written in 1914 for piano and voice drawing on 7 Spanish folk songs but in 1922 arranged for piano and both violin and cello – when the 7^th song was omitted. The theme again was love and the courting process, expressed in a variety of ways – playful, serious, tragic and even revengeful (Polo).

A really rewarding recital for us all, well worth a second hearing on video.