Recitals Australia. Elder Hall. 15 Sep 2014
Recital Australia's latest concert in its "two pianists" series was a feast of French composition and exquisite pianism. To have one world class pianist perform on an Elder Hall Steinway is pure joy, but to have two is like having all your birthdays at once!
Roy Howat and Emily Kilpatrick, who happen to be husband and wife as well as musical collaborators of considerable note, performed a carefully chosen selection of duos and solos by Ravel, Chopin, Debussy, Chabrier and Poulenc. The narrative of the program was about interconnected French invention and exploration of dance. French piano music has an immediately recognisable and distinct style of its own. Absent is the gravitas and obvious on-your-sleeve emotion of the German and Russian traditions. It is also more delicate and, arguably, more finely structured rendering it less forgiving of a heavy or racing hand. The situation is compounded for two pianos and four hands!
In the austere but acoustically pleasing surrounds of the Elder Hall, Howat and Kilpatrick sat comfortably at the two adjacent Steinways, which, incidentally, Howart helped choose for the Elder Conservatorium. Their performance style is not characterised by flamboyance. Rather it is contained and the focus is squarely on the music and their musicianship, which they both have in abundance. Kilpatrick would occasionally look at Howat's hands as if to strengthen the already strong interconnection with her own. Their timing, synchronicity, and finely balanced dynamics was a hallmark of the entire concert.
The highlight of the program was their inspired interpretation of Chabrier's exciting 'Trois valse romantiques'. Howat and Kilpatrick's imaginative dynamic shading, tightly-controlled unrushed tempi and attention to well-researched expression made for an on-the-edge-of-your-seat listening experience as the focus of attention alternated backwards and forwards from one performer to the other. Howat's ability to produce the most perfect bell-like sounds with his right hand in the uppermost register of the piano was a sheer delight.
Howat handled the requisite accuracy and fast tempo of Chopin's ‘Waltz in A-flat, op. 2’ with apparent ease. They unleashed the inherent fun and humour of Poulenc's duo ‘L'Embarquement pour Cythere’, and the achingly beautiful hurt in Debussy's ‘En blanc et noir’ was laid bare. For sure, Howat and Kilpatrick have a deep intellectual understanding of their repertoire, and the technical skill to perform it.
Mark de Raad and the rest of the board of Recitals Australia are to be applauded for entrepreneuring such a unique concert. Programs of this nature with artists of the calibre of Howat and Kilpatrick are rarities and are to be greatly cherished. Having said that, it was disappointing to see so many empty seats. Adelaide, please embrace these opportunities - they are all too rare.
Kym Clayton
When: Closed
Where: Elder Hall
Bookings: Closed
