REVIEW by Gerry Philp

Chipping Sodbury Music Society concert

THE February concert of the Chipping Sodbury Music Society featured Ivo Varbanov and Fiammetta Tarli, one piano four hands.

“A Romantic Journey at the Piano” was the apt title for Valentine’s Day.

Schubert’s “Fantasie” is probably the finest work ever composed for four hands and came at the very end of his tragically short life.

The haunting opening, taken at a measured tempo, was breathtakingly beautiful and the stormier moments were attacked with rare passion.

An arrangement of Brahms’ “Love Song Waltzes”, based on German traditional folksongs, were well varied and the moods were expressed with great finesse.

Echoes of his familiar Hungarian Dances were never far away.

Faure’s “Dolly Suite” proved a relaxed and tuneful end to the concert.

Played with obvious affection the well-known “Berceuse” was shaped with sensitivity and the final “Pas Espagnol” shimmered and sparkled.

The international status of the artists is well deserved.

Our next concert will be “An Evening with the Oboe Family”, featuring The Reed Warblers, on Tuesday, March 14.

They will present a variety of works from their repertoire ranging from mediaeval to contemporary, folk, jazz and popular music.

  • Tickets can be purchased from ticketsource.co.uk/csmusicsociety/ or the Box Office on 01454 315741 and further information may be found on the website at csmusicsociety.co.uk