Performance: Awake, the Harp!

School of Music, Review: Tara Werner

The harp is an instrument not often heard in recitals, so this concert was a welcome opportunity to hear it at full flow. Harpist Yi Jin was in the spotlight for most of Sunday night, playing in every work bar one. Through her considerable skills she certainly reflected the programme's title.

Indeed, it was very easy to stay awake, given the diversity of unusual chamber music offered by various groups made up of music students, university staff and visiting musicians.

The concert was an excellent vehicle to reveal the students' prowess among their professional peers, and if the standard shown is anything to go by, there is considerable talent waiting in the wings.

Young Korean violinist Hye-Won Kim tackled Saint-Saens' Fantasie for Violin and Harp Op 124 with confidence and heart-felt musicality. Showing an assured technique combined with an intuitive approach she overcame the many technical difficulties presented by the composer, whilst creating an obvious rapport with Yi Jin in a totally satisfying interpretation.

Not so invigorating was Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp. Music that may be full of self-confessed melancholia, but it came across as rather lacklustre - flutist Andrea Curzon-Hobson, David Nalden on viola and Yi Jin,

harp having problems with coordination. In comparison the alchemy seemed to work much better in the opening work by

Sir Arnold Bax, the Quintet for Strings and Harp, a score that sounded very much influenced by Debussy and Ravel. Apart from an astringent start with the strings looking uncomfortable, the group gradually achieved a greater

sense of ensemble by the end of this colourful work.

Later a Fantasy Sonata by Bax for viola and harp (David Nalden and Yi Jin) did not quite reach the performance heights of the Saint-Saens, but it was nonetheless a mellow interpretation.

Finally, a selection of songs by Schumann and Roussel, accompanied by harp and flute solo in turn, highlighted the lyrically warm vocal skills of voice lecturer Glenese Blake.