VIRTUOSO RECITAL PUTS MARSHCHAPEL ON THE MAP

Friday 12^th September saw the lanes of Marshchapel buzzing as 220 audience members crowded into St Mary's Church to hear brothers Paul and Huw Watkins perform four works for 'cello and piano.

Chamber music thrives in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere and it was to this end that the audience was encouraged to bring cushions and their drinks into the church. Introducing each work briefly, Paul Watkins, the internationally-acclaimed 'cellist, held us in thrall with his technical mastery and trademark pianissimo playing. Huw Watkins completed this exceptional musical partnership with astonishing virtuosity and tenderness.

After playing Mendelssohn's joyous Sonata in D (the first movement of which drew a gasp from the audience and a spontaneous round of applause) and Schubert's viciously difficult Arpeggione Sonata, Paul and Huw presented a world premiere by Helen Grime: Piece for 'Cello and Piano. This work blended angular, not unpleasing dissonance with rays of occasional sunlight as Scottish folk themes emerged. Finally Franck's Sonata raised the lofty rafters of Marshchapel's "Cathedral of the marshes" in splendid song.

Paul and Huw concluded their thoroughly enjoyable recital with Fauré's Après un Rêve and Elgar's Salut d'Amor, the latter dedicated to the late Vernon Handley.

Paul Watkins and Huw Watkins 12^th September 2008

Amongst the crowd thronging into St Mary’s Church, Marshchapel, there was a buzzing anticipation of the very special evening to come. Levels of expectation were high as Paul Watkins stepped forward to introduce his accompanist (and brother) Huw Watkins, and the first item of the evening - Sonata in D Major, Op 58, by Mendelssohn.

Paul Watkins is one of the country’s leading cellists. At the age of 20, he became principal cellist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He is Professor of cello at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. He performs concertos and solo recitals and plays in chamber music, performing all over the world. Huw Watkins teaches composition at the Royal College of Music and is also in great demand as a pianist.

The Mendelssohn was an exuberant start to the evening with virtuosic writing for the pianist and at times playful pizzicato for the cellist.

This was followed by Schubert’s Sonata in A Minor D821, which was originally written for the Arpeggione, an experimental instrument which was a cross between a cello and a guitar. This difficult sonata, with its extremely high passage work, was performed with seemingly effortless even tone. Paul said that the slow movement of this sonata allowed him to pretend that he was Dietrich Fischer Discau and, indeed, this movement was like a glorious Schubert song.

After the interval, we were treated to the world première performance of the "3 Movements for ‘Cello and Piano" (2005) by the Scottish composer, Helen Grime. She studied oboe and composition at the RCM and has gained many awards for her compositions. This piece started with delicate, cloudy harmonies in the piano and explored many different cello sounds including artificial harmonics and playing on the bridge as well as effective pizzicato. The short, intense Intermezzo was followed by the last movement, entitled "By Yon Castle Wa". In this, the Scottish folk song was played with a hauntingly rich tone above a simple piano part before a passionate outpouring from both cello and piano subsided into a peaceful ending. This beautiful work was well received by the audience.

The last piece on the programme was the glorious Sonata in A Major (1886) by César Franck. Originally a work for violin, this transcription was made with the composer’s blessing. The gentle first movement was followed by the passionate, fiery allegro. Then the recitative-like third movement, with its echoes of the opening melody, was followed by the "glorious sunshine" of the last movement, with its canon between cello and piano. This powerful performance was a wonderful climax to the evening.

The tumultuous applause only came to an end when Paul and Huw agreed to play an encore: one of the most beautiful performances I have heard of Fauré’s "Après un Rêve". The performers were called back to end the concert with Elgar’s "Salut d’Amour" as a tribute to the conductor, Vernon Handley, who died on 10^th September, two days before this performance.

St Mary's Church, Marshchapel, was full to capacity last Friday evening for the latest and most prestigious of Marshchapel Arts concerts to date.

The concert ended with Elgar's Salut d'Amore. This performance was dedicated by Paul to the late Vernon Handley and brought an exquisitely beautiful end to an evening of compelling musicality the like of which will not have been experienced in rural Lincolnshire for many years.

Paul Hicks    Marshchapel Arts