Lunchtime Recital – Joe Howson (piano)

Programme:

Mendelssohn – Rondo Capriccio

Bach – Italian Concerto

Ligeti – Etudes no 1 „Désordre“ and no 2 „Cordes à vide“

Poulenc – Les Soirées de Nazelles

Rachmaninov- Italian Polka (arr. V Gryazno

It was a pleasure to welcome Joe back for another lunchtime recital. Joe had last been with us in June 2023. A carefully crafted programme sandwiched some modern pieces by Ligeti and Poulenc between the more classical pieces. Désordre (Disorder) was a first for Joe and he finished it with an audible “Phew” (relief not satisfaction he later commented!)

Joe introduced each of the pieces each with a bit of background. The suite by Poulenc, « Les Soirées de Nazelles » derived from an evening with friends where he had composed six or seven short pieces each representing a portrait of them – a musical expression of each of their characters. How fascinating it would have been to be there and try to work out which piece was intended to represent you? For us it was a kind of musical Rorschsch test, trying to visualise a character from the music we heard – or perhaps simply sit back and enjoy it.

Joe rounded the recital off with Rachmaninov’s Italian Polka . We’ll look forward to his next visit (to be arranged).