Highlight of the Week

Lunchtime Recital

We were privileged to give another of our lunchtime recitals in Llandaff Cathedral on Thursday 8 February. It is always so exciting for our pupils to be able to perform in public, and indeed to be able to give a concert in such an inspiring building.

Huw W (Clarinet) opened with Brahms’ lovely, but technically demanding Sonata No. 2 in E-flat, impressing with his tonal control of the instrument. Holly R (Voice) gave a sincere account of Schumann’s Widmung, exhibiting vocal purity and natural expression. Nathan C (Piano) revealed the richness and warmth of the cathedral’s Steinway concert grand through an assured rendering of Beethoven’s Pathetique sonata – Adagio cantabile.

Emma N (Voice) gave a persuasive performance of Michael Head’s Sweet Chance That Led My Steps Abroad, with wellsupported phrasing and precise intonation. Sasha R (Cello) engaged with the profound depth of emotion in Ernest Bloch’s Prayer, greatly impressing with richness of string tone and generous expression. Aidan B (Piano) followed with a clean and brilliantly virtuosic account of Janácek’s In the Mists, working so well in the cathedral acoustic.

Lucy T (Violin) truly impressed the audience with her mature and assured performance of Dvorak’s Romantic Pieces, p. 75 – Allegro moderato. Yuxuan Wu (Piano) played Debussy’s Rêverie with gentle, wistful nuance, carefully navigating the harmonies and textural complexities.

Bringing the concert to a close, Bethan C (Flute) delighted with her vibrant and wonderfully energised performance of Rutter’s Suite Antique – Waltz, brilliantly capturing the improvisatory jazz idiom. Finally, Sofia B-G (Voice) gave a truly heartfelt and finely crafted rendition of Menken/Schwartz’s God Help the Outcasts. Sincere thanks and congratulations to all our pupil musicians.