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Music Club

GIVEN that a single long piece lay ahead in the second half, it was a wise decision on the part of Richard Uttley in his recital in Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor on Friday, 11 January, to present short pieces and movements in the first half.

Paris was the link between them. First up was Sonata K.310 in A minor by Mozart, one of only two he composed in the minor and written in July 1778, the month of his mother’s death.

The audience was immediately engaged by this powerful and affecting opening, four of Chopin’s Waltzes followed, each one fresh and distinctive.

Ravel’s Sonatine closed the first half, each of its three short movements a gem - a sparkling one in the case of the final ‘Animé’, perfectly executed by this soloist.

It’s hard to believe Brahms was only 20 when he wrote his Sonata No.3 in F minor Op.5, considering the ambitious orchestral nature of this sonata’s opening and conclusion.

The key to the work lies however in the ‘andante’ that follows the initial ‘allegro maestoso’, a romantic movement that illustrates lines of poetry about twilight, moonlight and ‘two hearts fused in love’.

The soloist evoked a beautiful range of colours that showed off the Coleg’s Bechstein at its best.

A piano workshop was held next day, in which four participants benefited greatly from Richard’s gifts as teacher as well as performer.

Erin Aled contributed Brahms’s Intermezzo in A minor, Osian Lewis Smith Oiseaux Tristes by Ravel, Jessica Jones Allegretto by Vanhal, and Alison Woodbridge Entr’acte from ‘Rosemunde’.

In each case Richard offered insightful, at times challenging advice, and all four rose to the challenge.

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