Seen and Heard Recital
Review
Bach, Lutoslawski, Brahms
Heinrich Schiff (cello); Roger Vignoles (piano), 1pm, 25 April,
2005 (CC)
This was a nicely varied programme, acting as part of the celebrations
for Roger Vignoles’ sixtieth (unbelievable though it may
seem). Strange then, given the apparent importance of Vignoles,
that he was absent from the stage for the first work (Bach’s
First Solo Cello Suite in G, BWV1007). Schiff, who has recorded
the Bach Suites for EMI (5 865342), gave a reading notable for
its light touch and its agility, the only, very occasional, awkward
passages coming during the Courante. Schiff imbued the stately
Sarabande with dignity and evidently had great fun in the final
Gigue. And so did we.
This was not a capacity audience. Perhaps the Lutoslawski scared
some off. The Grave (a 1981 work subtitled ‘Metamorphoses’,
for cello and piano) actually only lasts around six minutes but
is masterly. Curving registrally upwards from the very depths
of both instruments to become really quite active, it represented
perhaps an outing into modernist music that Vignoles is not readily
associated with.
All of which was essentially preparation for the meat course of
the lunch, Brahms’ magnificent second Cello Sonata in F,
Op. 99 of 1886. Here, indeed, Vignoles came into his own, the
piano suddenly massively sonorous, entirely in keeping with the
Romantic mentality of this work. Maybe Schiff was slightly less
at home here (a surprise as he has recorded both sonatas for Philips,
456 402-2 – note, this disc may not be currently available).
However, both players did manage to set up moments of real peace
and things improved mightily for the heartfelt slow movement (Adagio
affetuoso), wherein Schiff ‘sang’ with great intensity
in the cello’s higher reaches. It was Vignoles, though,
who provided the Brahmsian fire for the Scherzo, and indeed who
provided most moments of magic (great staccato) in the finale.
It would appear, then, that the concert achieved its aim - this
was Vignoles’ concert, not Schiff’s. He is a delight
to listen to, an accompanist and musician of the very first rank.
Colin Clarke
