Spotlight on sounds of Toad Lane concerts
●●TOAD Lane Concerts in February
(RNCM and Manchester University)
On Valentine’s Day itself, this experienced duo produced a varied and enjoyable programme.
Songs by Roger Quilter, intense piano pieces by Sir Arnold Bax. Then the pair celebrated Ivor Novello’s heyday, oozing nostalgia.
Finally, a Cole Porter medley lit up the otherwise gloomy weather outside.
An Encore was demanded, and a riotous ‘I could have danced all night’ showed off the dynamic qualities of both performers to the full.
February 21: The sensational Greek violinist Dimitra Ananiadou (Universities of Greece, York and Manchester in violin and musicology) was partnered by pianist Richard Whalley, Senior Lecturer in Composition at the University of Manchester (a York graduate and Harvard PHD).
Jules Massenet’s Meditation from ‘Thais’ and Maurice Ravel’s ‘Piece en forme de Habanera’, were both sublime evocations.
Beethoven’s monumental ‘Kreutzer’ sonata, great technique, passion and stamina in abundance. An electrifying performance.
February 28: Eccles Community Choir MD Angela Rowley accompanist John Stott
The opening numbers set the programme’s varied pattern, from the finger-clicking ‘It don’t mean a Thing’ by Duke Ellington, through a Shaker hymn to the majestic ‘Ombra mai fu’ by Handel.
A TV themes selection was followed by film favourites, and after a sidestep into opera, we moved to arrangements of popular standards.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein lyrics ‘The hills are alive with the sound of music’ and ‘You’ll never walk alone’ summed up the experience.
Everyone left humming, with a song in their heart.