A pair of musicians in tune with their audience
participation. Who could resist having a go at something that sounds so exciting and looks so much fun?
But don’t be fooled by their relaxed style, and all that charming chat about their mums and the John Lewis haberdashery department. Gunnell and Cox are fantastic musicians, trained to the highest level, bursting with talent. The sensitivity and musicianship with which they play a Bach Prelude and Fugue on, of all things, the marimba, gives them away. They moved through free improvised jazz on the vibraphone, before ending with a powerful performance of Minoru Miki’s Marimba Spiritual, a reflection on acute famine in Africa. A programme that proved O Duo are more than just great entertainment.
Fizzing through Sunday evening was the third of the concerts [ ]. A programme of Janacek’s Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen, as well as Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite meant that dazzling orchestration, bright colour and energy were on the menu offered by this gutsy and incisive London orchestra. Conductor Alexander Vedernikov drove his shining ensemble through these comical and dancing works, allowing them to display their virtuosity before the thrilled audience, though the sensuous moments of the Firebird could have had done with more space in which to uncurl and breathe.
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nductor Alexander Vedernikov drove his shining ensemble through comical and dancing works
Complementing these lively musical narratives was a world premier by festival director Alasdair Nicolson, Shadows On The Wall (Five Hauntings For Voice And Orchestra). Mezzo soprano Rowan Hellier was compelling, with her rich, matt velvet tone, as she performed these haunted and expressive melodies with focus, drama and clarity.
Nicolson’s idiom came through clearly, using atmospheric beds of soft string tone, disquieting and then suddenly beautiful harmonies, under characterful and clever illustrations by individual voices, such as ghostly long fingers running down the flank of the double basses.
Sunday’s programme also featured the St Magnus Festival Chorus, who valiantly embarked on Stravinsky’s Symphony Of Psalms. It’s a hard piece to pitch, and though singing of their feet being set upon the rock, at times intonation sank into rather boggy ground. But passing on to happier places, the last Laudate was sung with a gentle and peaceful joy. THE Costa Short Story Award is looking for submissions. Entries will be open from July 1, with an award for an unpublished short story of up to 4000 words written by an author aged 18 or over. Entries close on August 2 and must be submitted online. Entrants need not have been previously published, but publishers and agents may submit entries on behalf of authors. ANOTHER short story prize has also been opened, as Scotland’s crime literature festival, Bloody Scotland, launches its 2013 short story competition.
This year’s theme is “Bad Luck and Trouble”. Stories should be a maximum of 3000 words and must be submitted by midnight on July 28.
There is an entry fee of £10 to cover the administration of the competition. To enter, please submit your short story to the dedicated page on www.bloodyscotland.com/ competition.