Lunchtime Recital - Classic Piano Duets
Date: Thursday 15 May 2008
Sadly, all good things have to come to an end, and today, one of the 'best of things' played his last Lunchtime Recital as a pupil of St Edmund's. Jacob Barnes has been an outstanding musician during his five years in the Senior School, and a pianist second to none. He completes his A-levels during the next few weeks before moving on, I believe, with a Scholarship to the Royal Academy.
Today, in the company of Spencer Payne, he performed a set of classic duets for piano to a rapt audience of 40 or more, including some young guests from St Christopher's School in Canterbury, who were clearly spellbound by the quality of musicianship on display.
The recital opened with a transcription for two pianos of the final movement of Mozart's Symphony No.41 - the 'Jupiter'. This was merely an aperitif preceding the main course of Schubert's 'Fantaisie' in F minor (D.940), which, written in 1828 was dedicated to the Countess Caroline von Esterhazy with whom the composer was in unrequited love. As a light-hearted sweet course, Barnes and Payne finished the performance with the overture from Sullivan's (and Gilbert's!) 'The Pirates of Penzance', whose well-known melodies - and their delivery - earned the pair a massive ovation. Given the proximity of afternoon lessons, there was no time for an encore!
Jacob will be sorely missed, but the young choristers in the audience, Messrs Inscoe and Best-Shaw, now recognise the challenge ahead of them in their time in the Senior School.
Next date? Tomorrow night for the Summer Serenade in the School Hall. Tickets, I believe, are sold out - but please contact the Box Office for any returns.
