Canadian pianist hits the right notes in Perth
The largest audience this season was there to greet Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt for her return to Perth Concert Hall in the Perth Piano Sunday series on March 5.
In a recital showing the wide range of her sympathies she started with the first two of JS Bach’s Partitas. And how different the two were!
No1 in B Flat BWV825 began with an immediate lift.
She showed exemplary voicing, clarity and the occasional Romantic ralentando.
Verve, bounce, fun, serenity and buoyancy were other characteristics of the six movements in this work.
No2 in c minor BWV826 was equally masterful and very different: this had a grand start, parts, though quietly flowing, were majestic, some imperious, others melancholy. All such rewarding listening. Five Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti started the second half.
Kk491 in b minor began with a fanfare-like passage before moving to smiling graciousness with Scalatti’s rhythmic Spanishisms.
Kk492 in D Major had the fingers running all over the keyboard, expressing a sense of fun.
A second b minor sonata, Kk377 appeared timorous, followed by the well-known E Major Kk380 of a calm stateliness, redolently Spanish, before ending with the brilliant cascades of notes in the A Major Kk24.
Leaping some 150 years, Angela Hewitt gave a cogent and personal reading of Ravel’s Sonatine.
Beginning with a sighing and brilliance in flashing changes of mood: the second theme was warmth and feeling personified.
The characterful and sympathetic Menuet ended grandly before the glittering Toccata came to its spectacular and exciting finish.
Chabrier’s Bourée fantasque was vivid and vivacious, rattling piano playing contrasting with a smouldering second section.
Ending with panache Angela Hewitt was greeted rapturously by the large Perth audience who received as encore a performance of Debussy’s Clair de lune shining with limpid clarity, fine feeling and refinement and the utmost affection. IAN STUART-HUNTER Angela Hewitt