With the Vale of Glamorgan festival’s only event in the Vale, Penarth’s All Saints Church is ever the welcome place to have at least one of their concerts. Some chamber music from harpist Deian Rowlands and violinist Sara Trickey made for a great concert experience. More John Luther Adams, with three of his Five Yup’ik Dances and Five Athabascan Dances proves his honouring of the First Nations who live and work around John.
The harp here is melodious though can easily become more drone-like, percussionist Rhydian Griffiths displaying shimmers of little sounds and soft patter of drums and tam-tam. Again, it’s approachable and Rowlands plays with great ease, never letting the massive harp intimidate or overpower him. I didn’t think the harp could make more dense sounds, though Huw Watkins’ own Suite For Harp – proved this with vigour. Some stimulating goings-on in this suite, Watkins demonstrating his ability composing for a solo instrument, while Mared Emlyn and Perlau Yn Y Glaw was the pride of Wales – light and airy, filled with charm and elegance.
Cardiff’s Sara Trickey had a more complex programme to wade through. Watkins, once more proving his cleverness for the lone player, had Partita – a force of energy, Trickey tucking into the frantic bow work and the maniacal twister of the final movement (which required two music stands for all the score).
I’m pleased a work like this, exciting and unusual, has changed my feelings about Huw Watkins’ compositions. Trickey’s take on Unveil by Freya Waley-Cohen didn’t grab me as much, indeed I found it a struggle, but this was the violinist’s last work for the night so I tried to soak up this more angular and ethereal music.
All Saints Church, Penarth, Sat 24 Sept
Vale Of Glamorgan Festival continues until Fri 30 Sept. Info: here
words JAMES ELLIS