THE latest community news from Dolgellau.

Clwb Cerdd

HARP and clarinet are rarely heard together as a performance duo, but the combination was very successful in the recital given by Rhianwen Pugh (harp) and Rhodri Taylor (clarinet) on 2 December at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

Their programme began with a duo arrangement of Ravel’s Pièce en forme de Habanera, lively and colourful, followed by Sonate by Saint-Saëns, expansive enough in range to give a full impression of the instrumentalists’ skills.

The first half ended with an attractive group of dances for solo harp, Dawns Gymreig by Delwyn Henshall, Piazzolla’s catchy Libertango, and Fire Dance by David Watkins.

Sparks certainly flew in the latter, with its daring and imaginative use of harp sonorities. From fire to water in La Source (The Wellspring) by Alphonse Hasselmans (a pioneer of the modern harp, as Rhianwen explained), equally dazzling images were evoked.

The following solo gave the harpist her greatest challenge, Variations on Themes from Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti), to which she was more than equal.

Duo arrangements formed the final part of the programme, The Victorian Kitchen Garden by Paul Reade, based on tunes from the popular 1991 TV series, made an excellent contrast.

Debussy’s evergreen La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin worked well in this format, as did Carnival of Venice by Giampieri, a showstopper that gave Rhodri the chance to display his technical brilliance as well as musical grace.

A serene encore, Handel’s touching Largo, left a large audience well satisfied.

The first concert of 2017 will be in Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor at 7.30pm on Friday, 13 January, with a recital given by Mauro Lo Conte (piano).

Mistletoe and wine

COME and enjoy a relaxed evening of songs, poems and prose on Saturday, 17 December, at 7.30pm at Theatr Fach.

It has been billed as a cool and refreshing evening away from the hustle and bustle of the festive season.

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