MUSIC REVIEW: Monday Lunchtime Concert: Live From The RNCM - RNCM, Manchester.

A short, broadcast live online, half-hour concert by students at Manchester's Royal Northern College Of Music.

Live-streaming seems to have become a way of life now for the Arts community - it's a very poor replacement, but it is definitely better than nothing at all.

This afternoon, we watched and listened to two sets of students play chamber works in the RNCM's Concert Hall. First, a group of five wind players: Ellie Lee, Jess Vinson, Benjamin Pinto, Erin Bathgate, and Beatriz Carvahlo. They stood their required 3 metres apart from each other, and for them to play a piece of music which is an ensemble piece, without actually being an ensemble, must in itself make their task much more difficult. 

I have heard Gustav Holst's Wind Quintet several times, but for some reason this afternoon it sounded far more Classical and "retro" than I remember it being. The harmonies, thickly packed notes and melodic development of Holst was there, but the style and the melodies seemed to hark back to the Baroque / Early Classical period, which I don't recall ever thinking before. Nevertheless, it was a hugely enjoyable piece, played with precision and undoubted talent, and I enjoyed it immensely.

The second piece this afternoon was a duet for two violins by French Baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair. A composer I had, until now, never heard of, but I now know he was a teacher. composer and violinist himself, and this, perhaps his best known work, a Sonata for two violins (opus 3 no 5) is in three short movements and was played by Wei Ling Thong and Derek Ng.

Baroque music does tend to sound very samey - at least it does for me! and unless there's a decent melody to latch on to, I do tend to lose interest in this musical period quite easily. The music should be kept light, bright, flowing and lyrical, and I can happily report that these requirements were withheld throughout. It was played, again observing social distancing, with skill, and it was enjoyable, despite my dislike of Baroque music in general. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 9/11/20