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Noriko Ogawa in concert: Hebden Bridge Piano Festival 2014

Hebden Bridge marina
Continuing my week of high quality concerts, M and I set off for Hebden Bridge yesterday with tickets to a sold out concert by renowned pianist Noriko Ogawa. Another new place experience too; for a small town there is a lot going on in Hebden Bridge. A fun afternoon exploring the town and sampling the culinary treasures of places like The Olive Branch... and a visit to the local record shop, Muse Music.

Hebden Bridge Piano Festival (this year part of Yorkshire Festival) was based in the recently renovated and community run Town Hall. A very bright, comfortable space with a cosy cafe as well. Arriving for the evening concert we heard most of Dale Storr's early evening set in the cafe, performing New Orleans style blues piano. An excellent performance including a rendition of Stairway to Heaven in homage to James Booker.

The sold out Waterfront Hall held around 200 people, all of whom were very excited to see Noriko. The concert programme included: Debussy Preludes Book 1; and Beethoven Sonata Op. 57 in F minor Appassionata. Placed prior to Beethoven was for us the standout piece: a new composition by Yoshihiro Kanno, Mizu no Ryushi - A Particle of Water (for piano and myochin-hibashi chopsticks). Introducing the work, Noriko explained that the chopsticks are made from the same steel as samurai swords and by a 54th generation craftsman who is the only person making these instruments.

Kanno's piece was incredibly atmospheric and mesmeric, with auditory renditions (as I heard them) of bells, a water garden, a bubbling stream, a storm. The myochin-hibashi chopsticks have a resonant metallic timbre, sonorous but not harsh, which provided an unusual counter-voice to the piano.  To hear more, the BBC has a short interview with Noriko about the chopsticks available here. 

With supreme skill, Noriko enchanted the audience with Debussy's Preludes Book 1; I particularly enjoyed nos 2, 3, 6 and 12. Her performance of Beethoven's Appassionata was sharp and breathtaking, however to my ears it was almost too much of a contrast to Debussy and Kanno. Nonetheless, a superb performance with an extra treat to finish: an encore of Debussy's Poissons d'or from Images, Book 1. All the pieces were briefly introduced to the audience before being played. Noriko also briefly highlighted fundraising merchandise she had available for the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Fund; I also noted with interest that Noriko organises the Jamie's Concerts series for autistic children and parents.    

All in all two superb concerts. A few weeks break and then it's the turn of Valentina Lisitsa in Vienna - she will have a very very high standard to match!
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