Festival Vancouver
Alcon Schubert Plus Series
Festival Vancouver Trio

Dates: 8 August 2003 at 11.00
Venue
: First Baptist Church

Reviewer: Elizabeth Paterson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festival Vancouver Trio: Naida Cole, piano;  Andrew Dawes, violin;  Joel Stobbe, cello. 

Schubert Song Circle: Catherine Redding, soprano;  Aliya Ahmad, mezzo-soprano; Karen Lee-Mortang, piano.


Each concert in this series is better than the last. On Friday, Naida Cole joined forces with Andrew Dawes and Joel Stobbe  to play Schubert's Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat, D.898.

On Tuesday morning Naida Cole showed us her chops as soloist. Today she demonstrated she is as sensitive an ensemble player, always at the service of the music.

Joel Stobbe of the Borealis String Quartet joined the group at the last minute. He played with infectious enthusiasm, digging his bow into the strings with a great grin and always fully aware of the other players. Andrew Dawes as the elder statesman of the trio played with consummate assurance. The exchange of voices between the three players seemed effortless. Together they played with finesse and subtlety.

The Trio opened their performance with the Sonatina No. 1 in D major, D.384, a light work, but wholly delightful in these hands.

 


 

 

 

 


The Schubert Song Circle today consisted of Catherine Redding, soprano, Aliya Ahmad, mezzo, with Karen Lee-Morlang at the piano. Catherine Redding gave a charming and moving performance of Nur wer dis Sehnsucht kennt, D. 877 and So last mich scheinen, D.877. Perhaps her German needs a little more practice but this is a trifle. Aliya Ahmad sang Rastlose Liebe with great sensitivity but she gave a truly affecting rendition of Gretchen am spinnrade, D.118 which well-expressed Gretchen's growing despair and madness. They closed the set with the cheerful folk-like ballad Heidenroslein, D. 257. The singers were excellently supported by Karen Lee-Morlang's sensitive accompaniments.

This programme will be broadcast by Radio Canada, La Chaine Culturelle on Les Lieux qui chantent.  Check the CBC/Radio Canada listings for dates and times.

© 2003, Elizabeth Paterson


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