(Christopher Duigan
performing in the Hilton College Chapel. Pic by Jonathan Burton)
Concert sufficiently exciting and well performed to warm the
cold and wet festival atmosphere and leave the audience well satisfied. (Review
by Keith Millar)
Popular concert pianist Christopher Duigan’s Music Revival
has become an integral part of the Hilton Arts Festival, presenting a wide
variety of classical music concerts over the years.
The Music Revival series this year included six concerts,
four of which were Beethoven themed.
I was fortunate enough to attend the concert entitled Beethoven ll, which featured Duigan
performing the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor. In true Duigan style,
the concert was a little different in that the piano was not supported by a
full orchestra, but by a group of string players from the KZNPO.
It is believed that Beethoven would have reduced, or
chamber, versions of his piano concertos for when he wanted to try them out, or
to perform them at small venues. While the arrangement on show at this concert
was not by Beethoven himself, it certainly gave a different perspective to this
dramatic and intense work.
As a warm-up, the musicians performed the first movement of
Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C major K415. In Mozart’s case, he did publish a
chamber version of his works and it was this that was performed.
Christopher Duigan was his usual confident and imperious
self at the piano and displayed considerable virtuosity while performing both
works. He was ably supported by the KZNPO string group. With the extremely cold
weather experienced at Hilton this year, it was of great credit to the
musicians that they were able to generate as much energy and dexterity as they
did.
As is usual at Music Revival concerts, Duigan delivered his
interesting and anecdotal introductions to the music about to be performed.
These are always very instructive and much enjoyed by the audience.
The Hilton College Chapel is the traditional venue for the
classical music concerts at the Festival. This attractive stone building with
beautiful stained glass windows has a high vaulted ceiling and is an
acoustically pleasing venue for serious music concerts. It unfortunately has
narrow side-on pews, which are not too comfortable - and the cold weather did
not help the situation this year. However, the concert was sufficiently
exciting and well performed to warm the atmosphere and leave the audience well
satisfied. – Keith Millar
For more information on the annual Hilton Arts Festival
visit https://www.hiltonfestival.co.za
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