ALICE AND ARNAN ENTHRALL AT COURTROOM CONCERT

Gunning Focus Group was pleased to host world-renowned harpist Alice Giles AM and excellent pianist Arnan Wiesel for an afternoon of music on Saturday 30 May.  The nearly 50 people attending this special Wendy Coley tribute concert clearly enjoyed the mix of harp solos and duets with piano that the two performers brought us.

Alice opened the two-part concert playing what she said were some of the most powerful and expressive pieces written by influential harp virtuoso and composer Carlos Salzedo.  He was instrumental in introducing fresh ideas to the harp and new aesthetic gestures for playing it.

Praised as “the most intelligent, sensitive, technically accomplished harpist I have ever met” by composer Luciano Berio, Alice was just the person to bring power and emotion to her performance.  She showed how, in the hands of a skilled and thoughtful player, the harp can paint a landscape or evoke feeling and emotion.  While there were few, if any, tunes you could whistle later, our attention was rivetted on the sounds of rippling brooks, gentle rain, whirlwinds and various emotional states.

Arnan joined Alice for the second half of the concert.  We enjoyed delightful duets by CPE Bach followed by Turina’s “Theme and Variations for Harp and Piano” and then a Salzedo Sonata for Harp and Piano.  Their encore piece, Granada by Isaac Albeniz, was very whistleable indeed.

The intimate atmosphere and acoustics of the Courtroom so suited the music we heard. One patron told us how wonderful it was to see and hear the players from our upgraded seating in the jury boxes, which provide a great view and seem to accentuate the hum, thrum, and resonance of the instruments.

Next up in the Courtroom is Duo Mimesi, an exciting young Italian piano duo who will be opening their Australian and NZ tour here in Gunning on Sunday 19 July.  You can find all the details at http://gunningfocusgroup.com or sign up for our free mail newsletter by contacting us at gunningfocusgroup@gmail.com