February music 2: York Chamber Music Festival

After Thursday's fabulous music and with a head still full of Basia, on Saturday we went for a day trip to York to see acclaimed British pianist Martin Roscoe. Martin was performing as part of the inaugural York Chamber Music Festival, held in Bootham School over the weekend 13th-16th February. After a stroll around the centre and a bite at the lovely Licc (excellent apple pie and ice cream) we headed to Bootham.

I had been keen to see Martin for a while and particularly after a review from a friend who saw him at Ottawa Chamberfest 2013. Perhaps unusual for a pianist in solo recital, Martin performed with the music (no page turner to help, but very quick and efficient page turns). His York concert was themed around fantasy: Mozart Fantasy in D minor K.397; Beethoven Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight; Brahms, 3 Fantasies Op. 116 Nos. 1, 4 and 7; and Chopin Fantasy in F minor Op. 49. The hall in Bootham School was set up with a Grotrian-Steinweg grand and with a reasonable audience by the start of the concert.

Martin Roscoe after the concert

Martin gave a short preamble describing his concert and little explanatory notes before each piece. I thought that was an excellent extra, concisely conveying more information than through programme notes. Throughout, his style was calm and unshowy, drawing in the audience with his relaxed concentration. Whilst the whole programme was excellent, I felt the Brahms pieces were the least interesting; I still remain a little Mozart-sceptic.

Martin's rendition of Beethoven's Sonata Op. 27 - for him too dark for 'Moonlight' - was superb. Carefully balanced between the sombre tone of the first movement and the manic final movement, he had a very clear melodic line and balanced expression with a solid structural togetherness. Chopin's Fantasy in F minor was similarly varied; for an encore treat he performed the Fantaisie Impromptu with flair.

Not just an excellent music weekend but an excellent beer weekend - after an afternoon in York City Museum and a meal, M and I went for a few drinks in 'world beer freehouse' Pivni before the return train.

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