Ruthven Festival hailed as “best yet” by chairman

Garry Fraser

In the second of the Ruthven Festival’s weekend concerts, string chords took over from vocal chords but merely continued the excellence shown by the singers on Friday night.

Four strings or six, the music was absolutely splendid, with a wonderful mix spanning over 300 years.

Four strings, the excellent Ruthven Festival Musicians. Six strings, the father and son guitar duo of Mike and Michael Mcgeary.

Mike was content to let his son take the lion’s share of the limelight, and he was only too happy to do so and deliver a highly virtuosic display. Vivaldi, Rodriogo, Turina, Malcolm Arnold, anything falls easily into the lap if this talented player. There was flair galore and sensitivity too, the latter manifesting itself in two beautiful works by Tarrega. His virtuosity shone throughout, particularly in Mertz’s Hungarian Fantasy,

Mcgeary the elder had a more passive role, dueting with Alan Young in two movements of a Vivaldi mandolin concerto and in a quite charming piece, on electric guitar, by Flowers and Gomm, of the group Sky.

The festival musicians had to be on top form to emulate Michael’s masterclass, and they certainly were. The acoustic of the Ruthven hall is ideal for them, amplifying the sound considerably.

Chairman John Mckenzie felt this festival was the best yet. That’s a hard one to call as the quality over the past 29 years has been steadily excellent. But I would agree that this one will be hard to beat.