A full house at the Medieval Hall on Saturday was spellbound by a recital given by the charming 15-year-old BBC Young Musician 2012 Laura van der Heijden, (cello), and conductor, composer and keyboard player Howard Moody.
These two consummate musicians have performed together since 2006. The almost tangible communication between them was clear for all to see, hear and experience.
They immediately captivated the audience with JS Bach’s Sonata for viola da gamba and harpsichord No 2 in D.
Following this was Mendelssohn’s cello sonata No 1 in B flat Op. 45.
It would have been easy for the balance of this extraordinary work to be upset in favour of the piano but such was the sensitivity of the performers that there was never any danger of this happening.
They drew the audience into a deeply musical and delightful world, contrasting moods and melodies with every phrase beautifully crafted.
Tchaikowsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso Op. 62 gave van der Heijden a chance to skitter and flit around her instrument, always superbly controlled, and the final piece, Debussy’s Cello Sonata showed off the fantastic range both of the glorious instrument and the enviable skill of both performers.
For a final encore van der Heijden gave us the flickering, frightening and incredibly fast Fire Dance by Manuel de Falla. The whole evening was an amazing experience.
SHEILA OGLETHORPE
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