Two hearts beat as one

by Gwen heart

Kandy was in full glory of springtime when music lovers flocked to hear one of the world's leading violinists very ably supported and not second to him, at the piano lending him unparalled back-up to bring out the cream of the masters they opted to play that evening.

The event, Printemps Francais 2012 (French Spring) at Hotel Suisse, Kandy, presented by the Alliance Francaise, Kandy Music Society and supported by the French Embassy and Hotel Suisse, was a rare treat to the hillcountry's lovers of classical music and judging by the crowd, not many that missed it.

This virtuostic duo who need no introduction in France and Sri Lanka, were world-class in their presentation with no lapses, overlapses, not a single dropped not, nor interactive hesitation. When their eyes met for a flashing second for cues, they kept the audience spellbound with sheer artistry. As usual, the violin rose over the keyboard because that is how it is.

However, the gentle touch of one of Sri Lanka's magnificant pianists, remained unruffled throughout the recital as professional as her partner. They distinctly understood the fluctuating differences, variations, movements and tempo, that were differently individualistic to the four composers from their respective eras. Their sensitive movements were clearly captured by this duo, retaining the essence and spirit with which they were scored arising from their minds and moods.

Elegant

Certainly not an easy task though from the start, it looked simple and elegant. It revealed the volume of work put into force that helped shape their music which speaks very highly for both the violinist and the pianist. They have gone beyond barriers to achieve their music riches and this twosome is capable of evoking the mood and character of the music played tonight. Their artistic creations blended smoothly to complement each other.

And in that audience, I wonder, how many felt those two hearts beating in unison!

Violinist Pelassy from his early age was groomed to be a virtuoso performer, the moment his playing of the violin was discovered. This involved many hours of practice daily and by the time he completed his studies, he readied himself for his debut performance. This caught the attention of Yehudi Menuhin, especially playing Paganini. Menuhin helped him develop his robust talent but found him still too tender to compete for any award. So, he stayed put until 14-16 to receive formal prizes from some of the prestigious Foundations in France. That was the break he waited for.

Outstanding

At 16, he recorded his first CD Pelassy had always been lucky in that his next saviour, Sandoor Vegh admitted him, among his many outstanding students, to the Salzburg Mozarteum in 1978 and gifted him with a bow that belonged to Joachim.

One year later, Pelassy was selected by Yehudi Menuhuin and Alberto Lysy to enter the Gstaad International Yehudi Menuhin Music Academy.

He studied and practised under the distinct professors of music, becoming the youngest member at 16 of the Camerata Lysy. As of today, he has been invited to perform in more than 50 countries.

Briget Halpe who celebrates 52 years as a teacher and performer this year, has been dedicated to music from the time she was able to stand on tiptoe to reach the keyboard that fascinated her young heart. The mystery arising from within those black/white keys had already gripped her and by the time she was six, on to scales flying high.

Halpe is one of the most celebrated pianists of our time, especially due to her romantic keyboard style and is a dedicated artist. Beethoven always maintained the fact that to understand English, one should know the basics of Shakespeare's literature and this theory should apply to keyboard music.

I think Halpe is blessed in this that she is inspired both by English and Shakespeare to affect her music as right at home and beside her is the undisputed professor of English in our country, Prof. Ashley Halpe who is married to her for decades. She regularly updates her repertoire with research and training both locally and abroad. Apart from thousands of students who have been trained and let out to the world to do their own thing, Halpe continues to take on the present ones. She does voice training too. Being the President of the Kandy Music Society, she involves herself in their productions.

She directs the Peradeniya Singers, being at it for over seven years. She also founded the Kandy Junior Singers. Besides all these activities, she is deeply involved in the theatre and drama with Shakespeare being one of her best in productions such as Midsummer Night's Dream.

Soft spoken, gentle and petite, the maestro is still learning to impart the best to her future generation of keyboard players.

Halpe also accompanies foreign artistes at the piano as she did last week with gusto and aplomb.

Printemps Francais 2012 took on Beethoven, Massenet, Debussy, Paganini and Saint-Saens in two sections for the evening. The scores:

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata No.5 Op

The Sonata Spring Op 24 was very especially written only for the piano and is one of the best loved among his ten. They come with the aura that belongs to the keyboard with emphasis placed in the role played for the piano but some pianists do not mind being accompanied by a violin as Halpe felt the way. The spirit of spring abounded with full exuberance of youth and sunshine which our players infused.

Rondo

Derived from Concerto No.5 in E flat, is a glorious work, longest in his piano scores, it comes with delightful dazzle as the title suggests. Again, written for the keyboard as well as for a long orchestral exposition, it sat well on the violin/piano duet. The score is the finale to the exuberance of Rondo sounds.

Sherzo – Allegro Molto

Of Beethoven's nine symphonies which reached their peak as he kept scoring them, Symphony No. 1 in C op 21, was not received well by music enthusiasts when played for the first time in his day and was considered shocking and disonant with its opening bars but he rallied around in Symphony No. 2 in D op, 36 from which the traditional third movement was turned into Scherzo that is often taken up by the piano principally and accompanied by the violin. It is a lusty string quartet and the best of Beethoven's scores for the evening.

Allergo and Adagio also rose to expectation.

Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840)

He was possesed by the devil; and the devil possesed him. Many of his works were not published nor played during his lifetime. He fearlessly kept them in serecy and wrote only for the single violin. Accepted as the greatest violinist the world ever produced, this miracle on the violin would play only on the G-string. He wrote many caprices and violin concertos and is best remembered for Canabile played tonight.

Skills

The dazzling idiosyncratic qualities of the testing piece, needs performance skills that physically excite the audience. Did this score do the needful? Did Halpe and Pelassy rise to the occasion? I think they did but a round of applause does not necessarily mean the same.

Camille Saint-Seans (1835-1921)

A firm favourite for violin and among the most recorded of all miniatures for any type of orchestral music. There is a strong part for the fiddle in this repertoire but seldom used as solo and can accompany a violin strain. Jules Massenet (1842-1912) – Meditation from Thais Written in 1894, this gloriously beautiful score was strictly written for the violin to play solo. It is an intermezzo from the quassi-mystical piece of faith and set in the fourth century Cairo. The haunting music was played wondrously by Halpe and Pelassy taking up the challenge of playing it on two instrument though the composer strictly meant it for one.

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Tonight's duo also played this composer's Magical Violin Sonata in G minor as well as Allegro Vivo, and a vivacious couple of different scores before the curtain came down.