rachel_kolly_dalba_and_christian_chamorel_hi_resRachel Kolly d’Alba &  Christian Chamorel at the Pepper Canister Church, 8th April 2014

The violin and piano duo of Rachel Kolly d’Alba and Christian Chamorel are currently touring a recital for Music Network under the moniker ‘The French Connection’. The meatiest pieces on offer are the A major sonatas by Fauré and Franck. Chausson’s Poéme, Ravel’s Tzigane and Raymond Deane’s enchanting Petite Phrase make up the rest of the very substantial programme.

Kolly d’Alba’s playing is free and eccentric. This can lead not just to magical moments but also bizarre one. Her sound is old-fashioned, with a very wide, fast vibrato that will entrance a portion of those who hear it but send an equal number running for the exit. The programme on offer is an exceptionally taxing one for a violinist, and at times Kolly d’Alba is not quite on top of it, with fairly severe tuning problems (particularly in the first half) and a tendency for flurries of notes to disappear into a hacky sound. The third movement of the Fauré Sonata in A major is taken very fast and becomes the worst offender for percussive scales and arpeggios. Chamorel sits in stark contrast to his partner, unassuming, note-perfect and supremely sensitive.

The technical problems fade into the background after the interval, particularly in Raymond Deane’s Petite Phrase. The short melody of the title is an ambiguous twist of a thing and Deane’s handling of it is masterful, always insinuating yet never explaining it. The composer is present and would be justified in feeling proud of the way his music stands up alongside the masterworks on the programme. In Ravel’s Tzigane, an utterly mental showpiece, Kolly d’Alba suddenly becomes a larger than life depiction of the gypsy violinist the piece was written for. A showstopping finale, played with great chutzpah.

Despite the problems, this is a hugely enjoyable evening and it is quite likely that as the tour continues the performances will become entirely stable.

Programme

Fauré – Sonata No. 1 in A major for Violin and Piano
Chausson – Poéme

Franck – Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano
Deane – Petite Phrase
Ravel – Tzigane