Fine music partnership at lunchtime concert
The violin and piano recital from Irène Duval and Sam Armstrong on April 10 was yet another excellent success for the Perth Lunchtime Concerts series in Perth Concert Hall.
And there will be a chance to hear it again when it gets broadcast on Radio 3 during its Lunchtime Series.
‘Amabile’is the qualifier for the heading to the Brahms Violin Sonata No2 first movement and Irène Duval’s and Sam Armstrong’s playing showed their affection for the piece.
It was both aspiring and enticing. The second movement alternated a folk song-styled Andante and a puckish, light-heartedvivace.
Particularly entrancing was the final envoi. Warmth suffused the final Grazioso movement. Written largely for the violin’s warm-toned g-string, it had both mystery and schwung and a fine partnership between the artists.
Possibly slightly too fast, Suk’s Burlesque had brilliant rapid fire fingers and bow from Irène Duval. It was astonishing virtuosity.
The discovery of the concert was Bohuslav Martinu’s Violin Sonata No3. Against a running piano line Martinu had an angular melody. With busy notes, I’m sure this is where modern minimalism was born.
The Adagio began with arpeggios as though the violinist was feeling her way round the instrument.
It then developed a pressurized lyricism becoming more luminous and calmer.
The Scherzo third showed descent from Dvorak, tricky bowing and had a scurrying trio. The Lento introduction to the final movement had a dark, nocturne hue, before the again angular Allegro stole in.
As a calming encore, both artists gave great pleasure in their performance of Dvorak’s Romantic Piece Op75 No1.