Soiree for Music Lovers

Friday night was spent in the rehearsal hall of mandeville, with János Négyesy and his friends, who presented an intimate chamber concert. having anticipated for this concert all month, it was no less than shocking for me to find no contemporary pieces on his programme list. on the list:

Händel - Sonata in A for 2 violins and continuo
Marais - Variations from Les Folies d''Espagne for solo flute (done by a student(?) doesn't concern János)
Mozart - Per questa bella mano, KV 612 for baritone, double bass and piano
Fauré - PIano Quartet No. 1 in Cm, Op. 15

Well, i was disappointed. He is so big in contemporary stuff and all he plays on records, is new music. i have no choice but to think that it was the consideration for the slightly out-dated taste of the audience from this OLD la jolla community that had directed his choice of programme.

that aside, János and P�ivikki Nykter (János' long-term collaborator and also a contemporary music enthusiast) played beautifully, especially in the Fauré. their lines were beautifully singing, their emotions no doubt synchronised and their actions tightly knitted (hmm, for most of it.) the Adagio had all of its intensity perfectly conveyed but carefully contained, like the water surface at the brim of a full glass, as, you can imagine, the surface tension holds the meniscus in a smooth curve. only that in this case there's actually ebbs and flows of complex colours under the surface. which was also, i believe, like Fauré himself.
P�ivikki is such a poised and elegant creature. i was so fascinated with the movement of her bow in relation to her brightly shining earrings and her slight but smart smile. she is the kind of person who would've made the plainest hair style and the cheapest gown look priceless on her. she just project a different image from my singing teachers, who are always loud and bubbly, and often dramatic. maybe there is eventually a difference between the instrumentalist and vocalist personalities. i donno.
the Mozart is actually nice, partly because i know the baritone solo from voice master class. i think he might have been a year four or five. but he certainly sounded very professional. i hate myself for not having a recording of that performance. his legato is close to perfection, with gentle onset of the sound but soon growing into a passionate blossom of energy and ending with the unoticeable lifting of the sound into the air. sings like a poet, sings and cries and sighs. one word, bravo.

think should go take chamber music from that two violinists next quarter. think they are perfect teachers for this genre.