DREAMING OUT LOUD
More Than Music
Esplanade Recital Studio
Thursday (13 June 2019 )
This review was published in The Straits Times on 17 June 2019 with the title "Sweet dreams and fantasies".
More
Than Music is a dynamic duo formed by violinist Loh Jun Hong and pianist
Abigail Sin. The name of their partnership comes from the mission that they
deliver more than just music in their concerts. They usually invite another
artist to vary and spice up the programme, and they always speak to the
audience about the music from a personal perspective.
The
theme of their latest concert was about fantasies and dreams. The Romantic era
was the perfect period for such flights of fancies. Beginning with Schubert’s Sonata
in A major (D.574), the duo generated totally congenial and sweet-toothed
tones from both their instruments. From the seemingly carefree Biedermeier
period of Austrian history, there were neither dissonances nor discords in
their discourse, but it seemed a pity only the sonata’s 1st movement was
performed.
Next
came the thrills and bumps of Beethoven’s Fantasy (Op.77) for piano,
arguably the great German composer’s strangest works. It sounded like a
patchwork of unrelated themes and ideas punctuated by brusque and abrupt
descending scales, and then a set of variations thrown into the mix. That was
his idea of humour and pulling a fast one on unsuspecting listeners, which Sin
delivered with much conviction and dexterity.
Their
special guest this evening was cellist Qin Li-Wei, who opened with Schumann’s Three
Fantasy Pieces (Op.73) partnered by Sin on piano. His luscious string tone
was a balm to the ear, and he did much to vary the dynamics in these short
works. Imagination ran high as the two artists engaged in conversational
exchanges in the slow central movement, before a tumultuous burst of spirits
closed the set.
After
the intermission, all three performers gave a thoroughly absorbing performance
of Brahms’ Piano Trio No.1 in B major (Op.8). This was an early work
which the composer later heavily revised. Qin described it as filled with
“youthful passion and mature nostalgia”. Although marked Allegro con brio
(fast and with spirit), the 1st movement’s opening was taken at too
broad a tempo, something closer to Moderato (moderately paced).
It
had to build up to speed sometime, and then the tension never slackened. For
what could have sounded bloated and dispiriting instead became invigorating.
That most lovely of opening themes – a genuine melody to die for - truly shone.
The 2nd movement’s Scherzo was perky and playful while the
slow movement’s chorale was reverently answered by the strings.
The
finale bristled with an undercurrent of excitement. With no let up in nervous
tension, it made for a spectacular ending to the nearly 40-minute long work.
The performers gave no hint of exhaustion and went for an emotionally intense
encore: Astor Piazzolla’s tango Oblivion, which got the audience even
more frenzied.
In
their next concerts on 4 & 5 November at The Arts House, More Than Music
will again be offering something extra, this time - booze.
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