Merlin Music Society Review January 2007

Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival by Angharad Morgan

Last week’s Merlin Concert was given in the Blake Theatre Monmouth in association with the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival.

We were greeted firstly by the Suk Piano quartet in A minor. This performance was a good way to start the evening and promoted a positive outlook for the rest of the concert. The pieces ranged from a vibrant 'Allegro Appassionato' to a soothing and melodic 'Adagio'. 'Allegro con fuoco', my preferred piece flowed nicely but still had an energetic feel to it.

After a short break the Janacek Concertino took centre stage. These four poetic movements were, according to the programme, telling a story. There was a definite focus on the clarinet and piano with the rest of the chamber ensemble being introduced at a later point. The pieces were enjoyable, but personally I did not find them as easy to listen to as I did of the first set of pieces.

During the break, there was a buzz of excitement and the conversation was definitely focused on the hour just past. All in all the reception was very positive.  Beethoven's Septet, lasting around 40 minutes, gave the instruments a sense of freedom as the melodies flowed naturally, creating a feeling of calm throughout the audience.  I had not attended any previous chamber music concerts so was not quite sure what to expect.  I think that we would all agree that this concert was very enjoyable. On the way out discussions of the festival continued. I heard a whisper of 'it gets better every year' followed by numerous nods.  We hope this new partnership between the Merlin Music Society and the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival will continue in future years.

Angharad Morgan (Monmouth Comprehensive School)