Cellist Caleb Vaughn-Jones and pianist Joanna Wicherek gave a youthful, energetic performance in the St Andrew's College Drill Hall last night, 28 August.
Cellist Caleb Vaughn-Jones and pianist Joanna Wicherek gave a youthful, energetic performance in the St Andrew's College Drill Hall last night, 28 August.
The passion with which the pair played in the Grahamstown Music Society concert on 28 August was gripping. Things started on an off-note when Vaughn-Jones’s cello string snapped on the first bowing. He seemed as startled as the audience at the rare occurrence. Local cellist, Marianne Baasch quickly came to the rescue, fetching a spare cello, and the concert began.
The first piece, Aurora, by Geoff Knorr, was interpreted as a passionate journey through melody and harmony. Aurora was captivating. It had the capacity to fill the listener with light and longing for love. Not longing in desperation, but reminiscent of the feeling of loving and being loved.
As the programme read, “Aurora can refer to dawn.” The rising sun that announces the new day is simultaneously radiant and bold, yet reserved, holding back with a promise of hope. Vaughn-Jones and Wicherek’s collaboration in Aurora whisked the crowd away to a blissful land of pondering.
The Brahms E minor Sonata is a pivotal work in the cello repertoire. This performance was deeply romantic and almost agonisingly emotive. The second movement presented an escape from the dramatic first and third movements.
The rapport between cellist and pianist was masterly. The fugue was performed with great verve, with the articulation and balance between the instruments excellent.
The conversation between the instruments revealed a sense of presence in the moment that allowed the audience to feel the music through the artists.
They gave a joyful, exuberant performance of a Taniec Mazowiecki violin piece, transcribed for cello.
Listening to Chopin’s Sonata in G minor was like walking through fields of flowers. There was a sense of give and take as the artists moved through the love story. Both performers were technically stretched and the overall performance was exceptional in all its elements.
Vaughn-Jones’s dynamic range was exceptional. Wicherek’s fingers flitted afloat the keys effortlessly as the piano and cello danced through the music.
The choice of the encore, a slow movement from the Brahms 3rd violin Sonata, arranged for cello, stunned the audience into a blissful state.
The artists played a meek and tender recital. Their balance was superb. On a bitterly cold evening, the performance warmed the room.
