Geoffrey Collins & Alice Giles. Recitals Australia. Elder Hall. 14 Sep 2015
The flute and harp – at least variants of them – are instruments that have their origins in classical antiquity and even before then. As a combination they are well represented in the repertoire with numerous compositions – often with a distinctly French ‘feel’ – written by notables such as Bizet, Debussy, Massenet, Mozart, Rampal and Ravel, and the tradition continues with contemporary composers such as Piazzola. There are of course others, and eminent musicians Geoffrey Collins (flute) and Alice Giles (harp) performed a magical programme of varied works – some better known than others – from across the repertoire in their aptly entitled concert Shadows & Light.
Collins and Giles are consummate performers with more technical skill and honed musicality than you can wave a baton at. Elder Hall proved to be a fitting venue and provided acoustic clarity that laid bare the delicate and deeply satisfying blend and purity of plucked strings and a resonating air column.
Early in the programme, the distinctly middle Eastern flavor of Henk Badings relatively recent composition (1952) Cavatina for Alto Flute and Harp contrasted sharply with JS Bach’s Sonatina in G min BWV 1030 (circa 1735) – the old and the new – and the remainder of the concert showed off both instruments to their fullest across the spectrum of styles.
Thea Musgrave’s Narcissus for solo flute with digital delay was an absolute surprise. Languid melodic lines blended with ‘sound grabs’ digitally recorded on the spot by Collins and creating a hypnotic, sensual and highly evocative effect. But the electronic trickery did not detract from Collins’ artistry and absolute control of the music.
Giles performed Carlos Salzedo’s Ballade for Solo Harp with almost carefree romanticism but great acuity at the same time. She is truly one of the world’s best harpists.
The remainder of the program explored music by Ibert (Entracte – it probably works better for flute and guitar rather than for harp), Debussy (En Bateau), Jongen (Danse lente), and Ravel (Pièce en forme de Habanera), each with their own distinct ‘feel’ and ‘light and shade’. The programme concluded with Piazzola’s Histoire du Tango comprising four short pieces that collectively explore the development and evolution of the Tango since its creation in the 1880s.
This concert was warmly appreciated, and Recitals Australia is to be congratulated on yet another fascinating event that deserved to be enjoyed by a larger audience.
Come on Adelaide! Concert opportunities such as this are not common! Get out and enjoy them!
Kym Clayton
When: 14 Sep
Where: Adelaide Town Hall
Bookings: Closed
