Enchanting chamber music with the NRSO
By Madeleine Murray, Tweed Valley Weekly
NORTHERN RIVERS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA will present a delightful program of chamber music at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre on Sunday afternoon, September 7.
Performed by the musicians of the NRSO chamber ensemble, the program features pieces by Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Brahms.
The Weekly caught up with local musician Nicholas Donnelly, the soloist in the Mozart Oboe Quartet KV370.
“Written in 1781 for the virtuoso oboist Friedrich Ramm, this work sparkles with wit and charm while giving the oboe its rightful place in the spotlight,” Nicholas said.
“The oboe has a distinctive, lyrical sound that people love. It even ranked number four in ABC Classic’s Top 100 instruments, but it’s still often overshadowed by the violin or piano. Mozart’s quartet lets the oboe sing, soar, and playfully converse with the strings.”
For Nicholas, the joy lies in the intimacy of chamber music and the closeness of performing with trusted colleagues.
Ayesha Gough will play the Mendelssohn piano Trio No. 2 in C minor.
The Weekly caught up with the young, beautiful virtuoso who rarely uses sheet music in her electrifying performances: “The Mendelssohn is fiery and basically non-stop, especially for the pianist who always has a million notes!
“Mendelssohn himself was an acclaimed pianist and you can really see he understands the virtuosic limits of pianists and how to push them. Sometimes the trio feels like a concerto for piano!
“In the third movement though, all of us are pushed to our tempo limits with many fast passages in an almost cat and mouse chase towards the grander fourth movement.”
The final piece on the program is the Brahms Piano quintet in F Minor, OP 34.
“The Brahms has some very modern and intriguing moments, with a lot of drama and romanticism. The audience will love this music!” Ayesha said.
“The Brahms quintet presents its own challenges too, especially in the cohesiveness of the ensemble. Brahms loves his intricate rhythms and complex harmonies to overlap so that the music feels like ever-evolving organic material. His music is highly intelligent and deeply planned – you feel every note is in exactly the right place and absolutely necessary to the piece.
“Sometimes within the quintet I might be playing just a couple of notes in one hand, but those few notes contribute a particular colour to the ensemble.”
Featuring Ayesha Gough (piano), Hugh Won (violin), Alison Fletcher (violin), Nigel Bardsley (viola), and Katherine Hopkins (cello), this promises to be a heavenly afternoon.
Enchanting Ensemble is at 2:30 pm, Sunday, September 7, at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre, corner Brett and Wharf Street, Tweed Heads.
Tickets at nrso.com.au, at Murwillumbah Music, or at the door if not sold out.
Enquiries 0478 012 324.