A classical concert…

Last week we featured an article about a rare breed, a Cypriot concert pianist, Christos Fountos. On Saturday I had the pleasure of hearing him play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 at G Live in Guildford. The concerto was described by Nikolai Rubinstein, the renowned pianist of the day, as “worthless and unplayable…the work is bad, vulgar.” Ironically, he later became an advocate of the work. It premiered in Boston on October 25, 1875 and the audience loved it.
The First Movement has a Ukrainian folk theme and lyrical passages that weave teasingly until they are cut short by a piano cadenza that Fountos played with beautiful fluency and passion, an opportunity for him to display his wonderful virtuosity. The Second Movement is less dramatic and more playful, the flute opening with a four-note statement and the piano continues the motif, more virtuosity and a gentle ending. By the time we reach the ecstasy of the Third Movement, you can feel the excitement of the audience who are entranced by the musicianship and the delightful playing of the Guildford Symphony Orchestra (GSO). At one point during that final movement, Fountos folds his arms and sways along to the sound of the orchestra, his passion for his art and the music there for all to see…and hear. The whole orchestra and piano come together as the concerto concludes fortissimo and triumphant.
To rapturous applause from both the audience and orchestra, Fountos returned to accept the acclaim he so rightly deserved. It was an extraordinary performance that was an intoxicating mix of brilliance and subtle nuance which brought the concerto to life so vibrantly. It should also be said that though the GSO (conducted by Darrell Davison) are an amateur orchestra, and they had a slightly difficult start to their opening piece by Humperdinck, they warmed to their task and in the second half gave us an excellent Symphony No.2 by Rachmaninov in this his 150th Anniversary.
However, the evening will be remembered for the superb performance of a romantic favourite, played by a pianist of prodigious talent, making this a memorable classical concert.
Meanwhile Sotira Kyriakides opens up our festive fun…
It was an absolute delight to be able to sit side by side with my youngest to watch one of the most iconic Christmas stories ever told, The Snowman (Peacock Theatre). A delightful and well-produced production with great music for all the family to enjoy. The actors really did a fantastic job of portraying the story as I remember it back in the 80s, with a few added extras as a bonus. The simple but effective visuals aided this wonderful story and helped everything to come alive on stage.
The first half feels a bit long, despite some comedy from limbo-ing pineapples and bananas, and dance thrills from a leaping fox, squirrel and badger. Of course, Father Christmas and his reindeer make an appearance, with bonus material including a spiky leaping Jack Frost and an ice princess.
The music is captivating and nostalgic, including the iconic ‘Walking in the Air’ magical and perfect. The flying sequences throughout the performance really caught the attention of the younger audience – the excitement was tangible, with snowfall added in for a bit of extra fun. For anyone with a young family or just those that want to revisit a wonderful Christmas story then this is a must see.
Finally, Tomas Grise goes ga ga…
Last week, Mark Sanders and four talented musicians, Richard Ashford, Jon Caulton, Ben Parkinson and Michael Richards, were Queen in Radio Gaga (Adelphi Theatre). A tribute act that could rightfully sing We Are The Champions such is their talent. The show is the latest in a string of massively popular tribute shows from The Entertainers production company. They captured the sound, look and feel of Queen in concert, and Sanders made you believe Freddie was there on stage. Tye Connolly’s lighting design added an extra layer of pizazz to it all and my mum, companion for the night, who had seen Queen live at Live Aid in 1985 was ecstatic. A show that cuts across generations…and it will rock you!

The Snowman – www.sadlerswells.com
Radio Gaga – touring – www.entertainers.co.uk