REVIEW

WEYMOUTH LUNCHTIME CHAMBER CONCERT

ST MARY'S CHURCH, WEYMOUTH

THE exciting seasonal project of Weymouth Lunchtime Chamber Concerts 2014-15 reached its final goal.

All Beethoven's and Brahms's violin and piano sonatas - 13 works in all - were performed over 10 months.

The musicians were Catrin Win Morgan, highly talented prize-winning Welsh violinist, member of many ensembles such as the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brodowski string quartets and Duncan Honeybourne, accolade-winning pianist well known to listeners of Radio 3 as well as audiences of concerts throughout Dorset, Ireland and beyond.

Beethoven's violin and piano sonata No.10 in G major Op. 96 (1812) opened the recital.

This is an extraordinarily modern-sounding work for its time.

It includes many passages where the painist plays the melody, or the two instruments are interwoven; syncopation and unusual key changes.

One audience member compared the scherzo to an active rabbit warren!

The music is certainly extremely virtuoso.

Superb playing from both artistes continues in the Brahms D minor sonata, 1868-88.

Also in four movements, this is a typically Romantic work, often full of melancholy and showing off the rich, mellow tones of the violin.

The highest drama was perhaps in the last movement (presto agiato) increading in volume and power to the end - a fitting finale to a wonderful series.

*Weymouth Lunchtime Concerts in St Mary's Church, Weymouth, will resume at 1pm on September 9 with a recital by Virginia Black, piano.

JANET FERRETT