Presented by Duo Contraste. Elder Hall. 12 Mar 2016
Duo Contraste is an accomplished, prize winning and talented piano duo comprising Macarena Zambranao and Callum Gunn, both postgraduate students at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Their concert Danza Y Magia (Spanish for dance and magic) really hit its straps after the interval when they delight the audience with performances of Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Saint-Saën’s Danse Macabre, and de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance. It’s almost improper to say these three pieces were bookended by Brahms’ mighty Sonata in F minor for two Pianos and Ravel’s La Valse, but for a Fringe event they were probably the ‘odd men out’, though immensely enjoyable nonetheless.
It is an awesome sight to see two full size concert grand pianos on stage with the gentle curves of their cases gently folding into each other like two lovers whose bodies easily fit together. It is quite another thing to hear and see them played together by two class pianists who have a deep understanding of the music and of each other: in concert Zambranao and Gunn inhabit the same musical world, and it’s wonderful.
The Brahms Sonata began its life as a string quintet, but was abandoned by the composer after strong criticism by the leading violinist of the day. As a duet for piano it has everything: grandeur, passion, lyricism, and opportunity for pianistic brilliance. Zambranao and Gunn exquisitely draw out the cantabile lullaby nature of the andante second movement, and execute the opposing rhythms in the finale, driving them inexorably home to the final climactic chord.
Dukas’ The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a symphonic poem by Paul Dukas, and is certainly the most popular and performed of his works; featured in Walt Disney’s 1940 animated film Fantasia. Dukas also transcribed it for two pianos, but one is of the view that a lot of its original color is lost. That aside, Zambranao and Gunn execute it with style and finesse and relish the more turbulent sections.
De Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance is a movement from his ballet The Bewitched Love and was popularized by his own piano arrangement for two hands. One is not aware of the origin of the arrangement for two pianos and four hands presented by Duo Contraste but it “works”. The dialoged between the two pianos is entertaining throughout and Zambranao and Gunn don’t miss a beat as they swap between primo and secondo and conquer the difficult rhythms and occasional break-neck speed without putting a finger wrong! Similarly the arrangement of Saint-Saën’s Danse Macabre is full of musical and pianistic interest and was an audience favourite.
Originally conceived as a ballet, Ravel’s La Valse is usually heard as a concert work, and, sadly, very rarely as a reduction for two pianos, which was written by Ravel himself. There is also a solo piano transcription, but it is incredibly difficult and is rarely performed. The two piano version is also difficult but accessible to skilled musicians, and again Zambranao and Gunn conquer its intricacies and make the piece sing. Often thought of as an homage to the waltz, the composition essentially comprises a sequence of waltzes each with its own unique personality. Some shout waltz at you, while others are more intricate and the 3/4 waltz rhythm is not always immediately apparent but rather gradually revealed. The arrangement effectively imitates the range of instrumental colors of the original orchestration and Zambranao and Gunn confidently manage the dazzling array of splintered yet elegant modulating themes, stormy bass lines, dazzling ascending and descending glissandi (bravo Callum Gunn!), and the final tempestuous danse macabre coda.
Duo Contraste is an uber talented duo. Here’s hoping their partnership plays on for many more years to come.
Kym Clayton
When: 12 Mar
Where: Elder Hall
Bookings: Closed
