Concert review: Innovation Ensemble at Concord College

Wednesday 9th November 2011, 10:59AM GMT.

Shropshire Music Trust, Innovation Ensemble
Concord College
Concert review by Andrew Petch

Innovation Ensemble presented four 20th century French works all composed within a span of 26 years.

First, cellist Richard Jenkinson and pianist Benjamin Frith played a sonata by Debussy.

The music received the virtuosic treatment it deserved, as did the same composer’s sonata for violin and piano in which violinist Zoe Beyers joined Mr Frith.

The first half of the concert ended with a rarely heard sonata for violin and cello by Ravel, apparently a homage to Debussy who died in 1918, two years before its composition. No melancholy, however, as this is a spirited, vivacious work which actually made the audience laugh aloud as the two players did a musical to and fro which suggested a game of tennis.

All three musicians gave exemplary performances; the string players both had a cool, slightly detached tone well suited to the French music and Mr Frith’s piano playing was by turns exquisitely delicate and brisk, especially in the cello sonata.

Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time was the sole work after the interval. Clarinettist Mark O’ Brien joined the previously mentioned musicians to give an outstanding performance of one of the most emotionally challenging works in the entire chamber music repertoire.

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