Evening of piano music

Now resident in this country, there is always a complete dedication to the music she is performing, linked with technical perfection and that sense of enjoyment she so readily communicated to the Helmsley audience whether she was facing the technical challenge of the four-hand piano version of Stravinsky’s ballet, The Rite of Spring, or the Gallic charm of Tailleferre’s rarely performed Piano Trio. Yet she saved the best until the end with a stunning performance of Ravel’s multicoloured Piano Trio, sharing the stage in both French works with the outstanding violinist, Simon Blendis, and cellist, Jamie Walton. The concert opened with another welcome rarity in Bax’s one movement Piano Quartet, a score of vastly changing moods ideally captured by festival artists, Roman Mints, Meghan Cassidy, Brian O’Kane, with the pianist , Adam Johnson. He was then to join Apekisheva in the Stravinsky, the duo giving a performance of towering strength and brutal intent, the missing ingredient being a large concert grand piano required to make its full impact.

The festival runs to August 26, details www.northyorkmoorsfestival.com.