Ray Chen at the National Concert Hall, February 19th 2015.

With a charismatic stage presence and a growing reputation, violinist Ray Chen brings with him a weight of expectation as he takes the stage of Dublin’s National Concert Hall. With a programme of works ranging from the textured layers if Arvo Part’s Fratres for Violin and Piano to the dark and weighty sounds of Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata, the evening promises a virtuosic display.

From the opening of Part’s Fratres, Ray Chen’s playing is physical and assured, the swirl of notes building until the low chords of the piano’s first entrance ring out. Austere and lyrical, pianist Julien Quentin’s playing makes for a solid foundation for Chen; as the piece intensifies, the two match each other beautifully.

Showing shades of light and dark, the opening movement of Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata, the violin lines rising above the slowly moving piano part, is tense and ominous, the hall is in complete silence as they bring it to a close. The allegro busco second movement is a harder-edged affair, Chen’s violin sounding angry, almost harsh, with Quentin’s measured tone a perfect foil. Closing with the allegrissimo, the final movement, the playing is clean and finely balanced.

Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir d’un lieu cher, with its low, dolorous piano introduction, calls for a more expressive style of play, one that Chen handles well, the sweeping high tones rich and clear. The closing movement, Melodie in E-flat Major, is full of characteristically rich melodies, played with a real sense of lyricism by Chen.

The final work of the evening’s programme, Stravinsky’s Divertimento for Violin and Piano, is no less affecting. From the gentle melodies of the opening of the first movement, Chen and Quentin trading lines before the violin takes up the main body of the melody as the piano sound opens out, it is well handled. The second movement is short and sweet, lively and bright. The final movement allows for some final dexterous displays from Chen, his sound strong, as they close out the programme.

An encore comes in the form of two crowd-pleasing selections. The first, John Williams theme from Schindler’s List, is well-known and well-received, while the final piece of the night is Sarasate’s Introduction and Tarantella, giving Chen one last chance to show off his technical prowess. Displaying an easy confidence throughout the evening, and ably matched by Julien Quentin, Chen has shown just why he has built the reputation he has.

Programme

Part – Fratres for Violin and Piano

Prokofiev – Violin Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80

Tchaikovsky – Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42

Stravinsky – Divertimento for Violin and Piano

Williams – Schindler’s List

Sarasate – introduction and Tarantella