Sublime Song and Dance - Kathryn Stott at Skipton Music

She may be a jet-setting, world class musician but Kathryn Stott clearly likes to return to her 'home patch' area of Skipton. The audience like it too - Skipton Music's Tuesday 19th June concert (rescheduled from February) was I believe a sell-out. I have read articles about (and authored by) Kathryn in the pages of Pianist Magazine and similar publications so it was a treat to see and hear her in person.

The concert theme was Song and Dance - a celebration of an upcoming milestone. The programming was excellent - whilst Kathryn is clearly a pianist of considerable talent, she programmed pieces that are within range of keen amateurs, such as Grieg's Lyric Pieces Op. 52. Although I've not tried any of the Op. 52 set, I have learned some of the other Lyric Pieces and Tuesday's performance was an example of how the pieces really are songs without words.

The first half of the recital moved from the smooth Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Grieg through a very energetic Chopin Mazurka (Op. 7 No 1) to the heights of Ginastera's Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2. Loved the second, Danza de la moza donosa, and I think the audience boogied off to tea and coffee after Danza del gaucho matrero. A similar trajectory after the interval, from Bach Sicilienne, through Strauss/Grainger, Hough/Wild through to a jaunty Mazurka from Cuban Ernesto Lecuona. Rounded off back to simple beauty with an encore of Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. Posth.

Next season Skipton Music temporarily moves venue, to Christ Church, Skipton. Looking forward to it!

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Pigeon Funk

Notes on a very random purchase. Earlier today I acquired Venetian Snares 'Rossz Csillag Alatt Sz ü letett ' purely on the basis of the language and artwork. Its certainly something different - and most definitely not pop. After a bit of searching: Venetial Snares is, according to Wikipedia, the performing name of Aaron Funk, who seems to specialise in experimental tracks in odd time signatures. Article here . The sleeve notes for this album (whose title is Hungarian for 'Born under a bad star') poses the question: what if, for just a day, we could both be pigeons? Interessant. Apparently this concept (a day in the life of a Hungarian pigeon) is non-typical of Venetian Snares sound, but one could ask, does Mr Funk do 'typical'? On first listening, the sound of this CD mixes classical/traditional Hungarian sounds and breakbeats. but aside from that? Definitely a 'listen for yourself' artist; try the website , fan site or myspace .

Lang Lang: a little bit of stardust in Southam Hall

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New talent at Southminster

As a follow-on from last weekend's excellent Chopin concert, there is an afternoon of New Artists from the NAC's Summer Music Institute at Southminster United Church on 17th June. Entitled 'Dover Beach and other works for summertime', the concert features new artists Katarzyna Sadej , Emily Nenninger , Drew Santini, Hannah Min, Paul Casey , Karen Kang and Bryan Wagorn. I had the chance to hear Bryan Wagorn at one of University of Ottawa's Concerts at the NAC 4th Stage concerts back in February and thoroughly enjoyed his performance. The proposed programme is very enticing: MENDELSSOHN String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13 MONIUSZKO Sen (The Dream) Prząśniczka (Spinner Girl) SZYMANOWSKI Lecioły Zórazie (The Swans Were Flying) Ściani Dumbek (The Dark Forest) CHOPIN Piosnka Litewska (Lithuanian Folksong) Moja Pieszczotka

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