Only a handful of artists on the gruelling international touring circuit have the ability to make the concert spaces around them seem smaller; drawing their audience in, with the most personal of invitations to spend some time in their extraordinary world. Imogen Cooper is such an artist. The intimacy she created in her only Adelaide concert for Musica Viva, made for a unique experience from a great concert pianist.
Leigh Harrold has had a big week. First he goes and wins the Hugh D. T. Williamson Prize (first prize pianist) in the 2014 Mietta Song Competition, and then he stars in the first concert of the year for The Firm; the 102nd since inception. Continuing to be the best value concert in town, The Firm’s stellar 2014 program unfolds over five concerts on the Elder Hall stage, sharing the common theme of “The Waltz”.
The music of Franz Schubert, the Austrian composer whom The Firm have been honouring in their 2013 concert season, was this time presented by the talented Robert MacFarlane (tenor) and the equally skilled Leigh Harrold on piano.
This was a great start to the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, and there is so much more to come.