Oasis of song

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 4

Oasis of song

By

C. FOSTER BROWNE

Ruth Hawkey, who has a soprano voice of dramatic quality, and interpretative skill of widely ranging understanding and sympathies, gave a charming recital yesterday in the University School of Music. She was accompanied by John Luxton, the pianist to the university, who has a fine appreciation of style and the technical ability to bring an accompaniment alive in close association with a singer’s inner feelings towards the detail required for sensitive and satisfying accompaniment. The association of these two artists in a programme

of songs by Aaron Copland, Anton van Webern, and Gabriel Faure was an oasis spreading healing shade. Six songs by Copland gave Us the concentrated colour-

ring and good sense of a composer with his feet firmly on the ground, and with poetical feeling of well-poised order. The singer gave security in music which ranged far and wide in emotional expression and background. Six more songs by Anton von Webern were gems of lyrical and pastoral beauty. His logical and delicate harmonic progressions, free from his later atonal writing, were refreshing, charming, and of continual interest. The melodic interest was strong and ingenious. The recital ended with seven songs by Faure, somewhat better known than the others and interesting in their contrast with the German songs. Here again there were subtle points of writing and of poetic approach and feeling, all highly acceptable and contributing fully to the delightful programme.