RECITAL AT UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 19

RECITAL AT UNIVERSITY

String Trio 9 s Performance The 'cello and piano recital given in the University Hall yesterday afternoon by Mr Thomas Rogers and Mr Maurice Till was well attended, and rewarded its hearers. The musical life of the university and, indeed, of the whole community, has been enriched by Dr. Griffiths's establishing the University String Trio. Many excellent concerts have been given by this ensemble. Since Mr Till was appointed to the staff of the music department there has been a further more notable advance. His wide experience as an accompanist to some of the world’s leading artists—and they have expressed great pleasure at finding a musician of his attainments here—makes it possible for members of the String Trio and others to give solo recitals and, in them, to give of their best. Mr Till’s work always is a delight to his audiences and. for his associate artists, it is not only a source of great help but of deep inspiration. He and Mr Rogers played Grieg's Sonata for Piano and 'Cello in A minor. Op. 36. The performance was thoroughly stylish. Well-planned, heightened by a wide range of dramatic expression, and made alive by warmly romantic feeling. Choice o f tonal colouring was apt and tasteful. The climaxes were rich and powerful, and the beautifully broad legato melodies, in which the work abounds, were played with shapeliness, lovely tone, and expressive and meaningful phrasing. This was a completely satisfying, sincere, and most competent performance which deserves a wider hearing. In Bach's Suite for unaccompanied 'cello, No. 1 in G —a most testing work for a player's technical ability and finesse in interpretation—Mr Rogers produced clear outlines of melody with contrasted tone used for those parts which might be considered accompanimental in character. Sometimes the tone produced from the A string was rather at variance with that from the other strings. The old dance forms which make up the suite were charming to hear; and Mr Rogers played them with excellent intonation, kept the rhythm flowing, and balanced one movement against another with nicety of iudement. —C.F.B.