This
rather unusual combination of instruments was brought together for a recital in
the Hilton College Chapel at the Hilton Arts Festival this year.
The
musicians responsible for this were South African concert pianist Andrew
Warburton and married couple Violetta (violin) and Sorin (horn) Osorhean, who
were born in Romania but are now members of the esteemed KwaZulu-Natal
Philharmonic Orchestra.
The
recital comprised three exhilarating works and provided top-class performances
from all three musicians.
Warburton
started the programme with a solo piano performance of a set of six Bagatelles,
Op126 by Ludwig van Beethoven.
These
Bagatelles were published in 1825, rather late in the composer’s career. In fact,
they were the last pieces for piano that he wrote. Beethoven declared them to
be the best he had ever written.
Typically,
a bagatelle is a short piece of
music usually based on traditional origins. They are often regarded as a trifle
or a trinket. Beethoven’s, however, are more complex than that and display all
the rich colour, drama and authority one expects from this composer.
Warburton,
after a bit of a slow start (it was a cold day in Hilton) warmed to his task
and did great justice to these exciting pieces.
Violeta
Osorhean joined Warburton for the second work on the programme which was
Beethoven’s much loved “Spring” sonata for Violin and Piano, Op 24. This is the
grandest and most popular of Beethoven’s violin sonatas. It is an enchanting,
lyrical and radiant work which lives up to its nickname by being constantly
sunny and cheerful.
Osorhean
and Warburton performed this exquisite work with grace, skill and sensitivity.
Sorin
Osorhean joined the other two for the final item on the programme. The Trio for
Piano, Violin and Horn Op. 40 by Johannes Brahms.
This
one of very few works that has been written for this combination of instruments.
It is a vivid piece of music, pastoral, dashing and elegant. The poignant slow
movement serves as a memorial to Brahms’ mother who had passed away a while
before.
Once
again, the musicians did not disappoint and they put in a majestic performance
of this exciting and interesting music.
The
Hilton College Chapel, despite having an acoustic suited to classical music, is
an uncomfortable venue. The side-on seats are hard wooden pews. The result is
that both the necks and rear ends of the audiences suffer.
Besides
that, there appears to be a meeting place for young festival goers immediately outside
the Chapel. The resulting extraneous noise and excitement can be quite
disturbing - especially during quitter passages of music.
Despite
these factors, and entering the spirit of the festival, this was an excellent
recital. It offered some well- known and well-loved music as well as something which
was new and exciting to most of the audience. The
musicians certainly deserved the sustained standing ovation they received at
the end. – Keith Millar
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