(Agnese
Eglina)
A truly interesting and enjoyable recital. (Review
by Barbara Trofimczyk)
The Friends of Music recital on October 3 at
the Durban Jewish Club was given by the Latvian pianist Agnese Eglina.
Described as an “invitation to dance”, the
programme consisted of an unusual, seemingly odd and diverse collection of
music relating to dance, in a good balance of known and unknown works
This is not music for dancing as in ballet
music, but rather stylised compositions that use characteristic dance rhythms
as inspiration to create music to perform on the piano.
Dating from the Baroque era, (Bach), and
romantic period (Grieg) to more contemporary (20th century) works, there was
plenty of opportunity for the soloist to display her versatile and musically
captivating, if occasionally eccentric, approach to the piano. Her amazing
range of sound from the softest, expressive pianissimo to the vigorous and
powerful forte was always couched in meaningful, musical phrasing and stylistic
interpretation, constantly drawing attention to the finer details of the score.
Her prodigious technique came in very useful in interpreting the music by
Ginastera, Gershwin and Piazzolla, making the clashing dissonances in the
textures sound fantastic, and the rhythmic complexities very exciting.
It turned out to be a truly interesting and
enjoyable recital, also entertaining when, in the Libertango by Piazzolla, she added a further dimension to the
instrument by plucking the strings and beating out rhythms on the wooden lid.
The Prelude Performer on this occasion was
15 year old pianist, Ethan Mackensie. - Barbara Trofimczyk
For
more information on Friends of Music visit http://www.friendsofmusic.co.za/
Posts
