FRIENDS OF MUSIC: TRIO HEMANAY

Thoroughly enjoyable evening of chamber music, presented by Friends of Music. (Review by Michael Green)

Tuesday night’s concert was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of chamber music, presented by the Friends of Music at the Durban Jewish Centre.

The Trio Hemanay are based in Johannesburg and consist of Marian Lewin (cello), Malcolm Nay (piano) and Helen Vosloo (flute). The unusual title they have given themselves is apparently a compound of parts of their names.

They are experienced and skilful performers, and the presence of the flute makes them an unusual combination. They gave an unusual programme too, and one that gave much pleasure to an enthusiastic audience.

They opened with a trio by Haydn, in F major, Hob.XV/17, one of three written by Haydn about 1790 for flute, cello and piano. Haydn was a remarkably prolific composer of chamber music, with dozens of quartets and trios, and this one was new to me. It was delightful, typically lively and cheerful, with a prominent role for the flute. Did Haydn ever write a dull piece of music? If he did, I have yet to hear it.

The players maintained their good form in the two twentieth century works that followed, both of them attractive and ingenious novelties. The quaintly named The Jet Whistle for flute and cello, by the Brazilian composer Villa-Lobos, was apparently inspired by a train journey made by the composer. It was colourful and brilliant, with a good dash of humour. Helen Vosloo and Marian Lewin gave an accomplished performance.

This was followed by Sonate en Concert, written about 50 years ago by the French composer Jean-Michel Damase. The trio’s pianist, Malcolm Nay, described this as “an absolutely delightful and charming piece”, and so it turned out to be. It is in six brief movements with Baroque titles --- Rigaudon, Sicilienne, Gigue, etcetera --- but the mood is very twentieth century and very French, reflecting the perennial Parisian interest in the passing show on and off the streets.

Finally, we had a well-known and much-admired work, Mendelssohn’s Trio in D minor, Op. 49. The copious programme notes should, I think, have explained that this was composed, in 1839, as a trio for piano, cello and violin (the form in which it is generally known) and that the violin part was later arranged for flute, probably by the composer himself. Be that as it may, the flute part and the piece as a whole were excellently played, with good ensemble and balance in Mendelssohn’s quite complex and difficult score. Lovely music, with Malcolm Nay showing many moments of virtuoso brilliance at the keyboard.

The evening’s prelude performer, funded by the National Lottery, was seven-year-old Roxanne van Oudtshoorn of Durban, a very small violinist with a big tone and a good technique for one so young. Accompanied by Dana Hadjiev, she played pieces by Vivaldi and A. Curci. We will watch her future progress with interest. - Michael Green