Presented by Resonance: Chamber Landscapes / Stephanie McCallum and Erin Helyard
Reviewed 13 March 2022
As part of the Resonance: Chamber Landscapes series at Ukaria, pianists Stephanie McCallum and Erin Helyard presented a concert of piano works for four hands. Performing along with these two fine musicians, the third star of the show was the piano herself: a straight-strung 1853 Érard restored by Frits Janmaat and loaned to the Adelaide Festival by Judith Neilson.
In honour of this beautiful French instrument, the four-hand program comprised all French composers, opening with perhaps the best known of them, Debussy. The Érard has a crisp, clear, sound, different to the mellower tones we are used to in more contemporary pianos. This tone was perfect for Petite Suite, bringing out the often honky-tonk undertones of his piano works. The program continued through works by Ropartz, Faure and Chaminade, the latter being the first female composer to win the Légion d’Honneur.
McCallum and Helyard pair perfectly at the keyboard. Four-hand pieces obviously require a seamless blending of two musicians, but they also blossom when two different styles are brought to the work. These two together are a total joy both to listen to and to watch. It is obvious that as well as being technically outstanding pianists, they are up there having a lot of fun, bringing passion to the work, and taking the audience along with them.
Final piece of the program was Alkan’s Sonate de concert Op. 47, a slightly more gutsy work and a perfect finale, bringing the audience to their feet.
It is no wonder that this, and many other concerts in the series, have sold out within days of being announced. Erin Helyard curated the Resonance program, and deserves a standing ovation for that.
Four Hands at the Érard: Two amazing musicians, an intelligently selected program, a beautiful instrument, and a stunning venue. Perfection.
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten
Venue: Ukaria Cultural Centre
Season: Finished
Rating out of 5: 5
Photo Credit: Brett Boardman
#Adelaide #Ukaria @adelaidefest
More News
