Classical take on Folk at Eaton!

St Andrew's Church, Eaton

On Sunday afternoon I attended the latest concert in the Eaton Concert Series at St Andrew's Church, Eaton featuring Adrian Adlam - violin and Thomas Hell - piano.

The concert programme was Liebestod (piano solo) Wagner arr Liszt, Second violin sonata Bartok, Sonato no 1 in G, Opus 78 Brahms and Tzigane Concert Rhapsody Ravel.

Thomas Hell opened the concert with a piano solo of Liebestod. This is a transcript of a Wagner opera by Liszt. This was followed by Bartok's second violin sonata which thrilled and frightened us at the same time. Adrian Adlam demonstrated his fine violin playing. In this piece the piano and violin are treated as separate instruments with dramatic results.

After the interval where we were served delicious apple and orange juice we were taken to a more downbeat place in our heads with Brahms sonata no 1 in G, Opus 78 that was created in memory of his godson. This is a very moving piece of music.

The concert finished in dramatic fashion with Ravel's Tzigane with it's take on Eastern European Folk music. You can feel the Gypsy fiddle playing in the music. This was an excellent afternoon of music that made the audience think as well as being very entertaining.