This was the first time that I’ve been to SJE Arts on the Iffley Road. It used to be St John the Evangelist Church, opposite the athletics track and so close that Sir Roger would get to it in less than 4 minutes. It’s certainly a splendid new venue for music, a welcome addition to the Oxford scene, and the seats are much more comfortable than the Sheldonian.
But you don’t want to hear about that. Last night the Montreal born prize-winning pianist Louise Bessette gave a small but appreciative audience an excellent concert themed on Reflections of Spain. In fact she played through most of her 2010 CD of the same name. This CD is one of many of hers on Spotify and is well worth a listen.
I’d have to agree with her billing as a “virtuoso pianist”, and as they also say, she certainly seems to be a “leading light in the interpretation of 20th century music”. She definitely gave 100% in this concert, in a physically energetic style that really worked her Steinway hard. Her largely Spanish programme of gipsy dances and tangos suited her gifts and drew out real passion for the music. She started off with Joaquin Turina’s Gypsy Dances op 55. All five were very good, but the slow and thoughtful Danza Ritual was the most captivating. Then she played two outstanding tangos by Isaac Albeniz, first op 165 no 2 and then the utterly sublime op 164. The latter was just wonderful.Bessette closed the first half with accordionist William Schimmel’s quirky Fromage Dangereux, another rhythmic tango, although what it had to do with cheese remains a mystery. It did however admirably finish off a delicious first half.
After the interval Bessette started off with a collection of 21 very short variations on traditional themes, rather like a series of learners’ exercises, by Jose Evangelista (a Canadian composer born in Spain), called Nuevas Monodias Espanolas. Interesting enough, although as I am not familiar with this particular work, I think it will need a few more dedicated listens to grow on me.
Just like the wine made from water, which is an appropriate analogy for the venue, the best was saved ‘til last. And how wonderful was Cuban Ernesto Lecuona’s divine Suite Andalucia?! All six pieces were absolutely brilliant, although if you forced me to pick my favourites they would have to be the ever popular Andalucia and the equally memorable Malaguena.We ended the concert with a collective sigh of pleasure.