Today Kendal Midday Concert Club hosted a superb violin and piano duo - two upcoming stars, Charlotte Salustre-Bridoux from France and Joseph Havlat from Tasmania. It’s the best ten quid I’ve spent for a long time. They played with outstanding vigour to complement their musical talent.
The outstanding item for me and, if the applause is anything to judge by, the rest of the audience as well, was Schubert’s Fantasy in C major D.934. I have a CD which includes this work, but I have never regarded it as a major work. Hearing it live played by two excellent players was a great privilege and certainly changed my view of the piece. There was at least one movement which brought me to the brink of tears, so movingly was it played. Late works by Schubert (he was dead less than a year after this work was written) can have such effects on me. It makes me think he knew he didn’t have long to live, and hearing these late works always make me grieve for his tragically young demise and the works he would have undoubtedly written had he lived longer. It also reminds me of the magic of live music.
This link takes you to Charlotte
There’s also a large number of videos of the Fantasy
I’ve also noticed the duo will be performing the Schubert Fantasy again in Morpeth on April 20. Wouldn’t be surprised if we happen to be in the area……