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Fiona Maddocks's rating
, Adès pulls the strings
By
Fiona Maddocks
4 Nov 2008
An attentive Kings Place audience burst into whoops at the close of an all-Stravinsky recital by violinist Anthony Marwood and pianist Thomas Adès, which launched this week’s Aldeburgh on Tour series.
Given the technical mysteries of the violin, most non-string playing composers need an expert ally before daring to write for the instrument. In Stravinsky’s case, inspiration came from Samuel Dushkin, a Polish-American violinist, for whom he wrote the Violin Concerto as well as several duo works.
Adès and Marwood used this material for their recital, opening with the cool, mechanically brilliant Suite Italienne, moving on to the Duo Concertante, bristling with febrile detail and fierce but unconventional virtuosity. The climax was the big-boned Divertimento, with the furiously energetic Danse Russe from Petrushka to end.
There’s no let-up in this taut, sinewy music. Marwood met the fiendish challenges with only tiny signs of fatigue and Adès, providing a composer’s insight, was an exemplary musical partner.
Tonight, Rape of Lucretia, 7.30pm (0844 264 0321).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
