December 2008

Dear Music-lover,

Our December (mulled wine and mince pies) concert was given by Arta Arnicane, a young Latvian pianist who had studied and played in Scotland and was highly recommended. She called her recital "Piano Variations”. To be honest, as a pianist, I have a horror of the word "variations", reminding me of the works I have played where a simple tune becomes ever more complicated with musicality being subjugated to pianism. But that's just me. Arta's technique overcame my doubts.

She opened with the innocuous Mozart variations on "Twinkle, twinkle little star", followed by Variations by the brilliant pianist (and wife of Robert), Clara Schumann and then by Variations by Arta’s countryman Jazeps Vitols. For various reasons (a certain similarity of styles, Arta's (lack of) body movement), we weren't confident enough that the Schumann had ended to applaud and she carried on. She took my interval advice to speak to the audience and opened the second half by apologising for "fooling" us.

I did find it slightly disconcerting to go into the "Green Room", normally filled with bits of food, instruments, musicians, music and people, to find a wee girl sitting alone in an empty room with her gloves on, staring at a portrait. "The life of a soloist", I thought. Arta brought the concert to a close with a delightful encore; the Handel variations which she had originally planned as the opening work but had later substituted the Mozart.

The star of the interval was Howard Spenceley, whose mulled wine is a work of art on its own. To his infinite regret, Howard had to leave before the second half, as a curling match required his presence. I'm afraid that I shall be missing at the next concert – the Frith Piano Quartet on January 14th. Skiing in the Alps with son and daughter requires my presence - at least to pay the bills - but I have had excellent reports of the quartet and the concert programme is wonderful. See you next year.

Paul