Local Duo Bring Old and New Together in Sonorous Performance
Ben Goldscheider's horn and Richard Uttley's piano delivered a lunchtime recital that showcased their infinite musical sensibilities, pairing old with new to create a richly satisfying performance. The duo kicked off with Schumann's Three Fantasiestücke, Op 73, which surprisingly suited the horn's full lyrical range. This opener set the tone for an astute interweaving of classical pieces, demonstrating the musicians' virtuosity and mutual understanding.
A highlight came from Simon Holt's "The Bell", a 2022 work that perfectly paired the horn with piano. The bell-like sounds on the keyboard provided an enticing foil to Goldscheider's melodic phrases, culminating in a dramatic finale. Oliver Leith's "Eeyore" also impressed, its soulful and lugubrious tone featuring affectionate mockery of the titular character through a brilliant donkey bray.
The repertoire continued with Scriabin's early Romance for Horn and Piano, filled with passion and hinting at future paths, as well as Esa-Pekka Salonen's dynamic Horn Music 1. Goldscheider delivered an extended horn solo that added to the overall impact of the piece. The highlight of the performance was Mahler's Urlicht, "Primordial Light", a sly reference to its origins in the Boy's Magic Horn from Mahler's song series Des Knaben Wunderhorn.
Goldscheider brought magic to his playing, imbuing this Urlicht with expressive lines and soft glow that left listeners deeply moved. The pairing of old and new proved successful, yielding a sonorous performance that left the audience wanting more.
Ben Goldscheider's horn and Richard Uttley's piano delivered a lunchtime recital that showcased their infinite musical sensibilities, pairing old with new to create a richly satisfying performance. The duo kicked off with Schumann's Three Fantasiestücke, Op 73, which surprisingly suited the horn's full lyrical range. This opener set the tone for an astute interweaving of classical pieces, demonstrating the musicians' virtuosity and mutual understanding.
A highlight came from Simon Holt's "The Bell", a 2022 work that perfectly paired the horn with piano. The bell-like sounds on the keyboard provided an enticing foil to Goldscheider's melodic phrases, culminating in a dramatic finale. Oliver Leith's "Eeyore" also impressed, its soulful and lugubrious tone featuring affectionate mockery of the titular character through a brilliant donkey bray.
The repertoire continued with Scriabin's early Romance for Horn and Piano, filled with passion and hinting at future paths, as well as Esa-Pekka Salonen's dynamic Horn Music 1. Goldscheider delivered an extended horn solo that added to the overall impact of the piece. The highlight of the performance was Mahler's Urlicht, "Primordial Light", a sly reference to its origins in the Boy's Magic Horn from Mahler's song series Des Knaben Wunderhorn.
Goldscheider brought magic to his playing, imbuing this Urlicht with expressive lines and soft glow that left listeners deeply moved. The pairing of old and new proved successful, yielding a sonorous performance that left the audience wanting more.