Review: Virtuosic repertoire admirably presented by classical duo at St Luke's Church Rotorua concert

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Review

What: Noelle Dannenbring and Lucas Baker concert
Where: St Luke's Church
When: Wednesday, June 22
Reviewed by: Richard Anaru

If you consider yourself a classical music buff and I mentioned Cesar Franck, you would probably say "yes I know of him".

If I asked you "how about Arno Babadjanian?" and you said "yes, I know his work" well, I'd be suitably impressed.

The latter is, let's say, not as well known to a wider audience as he should and that's a shame because his 'Sonata For Violin and Piano in B-flat Major, while complex in arrangement, is quite outstanding.

It's especially impressive when performed by two up-and-coming virtuoso classical exponents, Noelle Dannenbring (piano) from Rotorua and Lucas Baker (violin) from Wellington, who form classical duo Korua (love the name).

The duo came together in 2020 as a result of discussions at various music festivals and the result is this wonderful short tour.

Performing last night at St Luke's Church, they took a smallish audience on a musical adventure through the quite beautiful Cesar Franck Sonata For Violin and Piano in B-flat Major and then on to the wild and energetic Babadjanian composition, Sonata For Violin and Piano in B-flat Major.

Both players will probably agree the performance, although thoroughly enjoyable, wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination but, my word, it was their courage and inventiveness in the performance that made its presence felt.

Actually, that's what Korua is about. Eager to bring an ingredient, a twist, their own X factor to wonderful compositions they might find hidden away in musical attics or under rocks.

It is wonderful to witness the beginning of something that just might go somewhere. And those who were there may one day look on the occasion as a special night.