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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