Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12/06/2008

Live concert review - Rochdale Music Society

Jane Devaney, a long-standing subscriber, sponsored this finale to another fine season from the Music Society.

Unfortunately she was indisposed on the night itself, but the celebrated rising stars of the concert world who also presented a commissioned work from a Rochdale-born composer did her proud.

Acclaimed guitarist Morgan Szymanski is clearly a rising star. Born in Mexico City and trained in London and Amsterdam he has already won several international competitions. He had to limit his contribution because of injury, nonetheless two short pieces by Mangore and Ponce gave us a glimpse of his undoubted skill.

Then the Sacconi Quartet, formed in 2001 at London’s Royal College of Music by Ben Hancox and Hannah Dawson violins, Robin Ashwell, viola and Cara Berridge cello, played an unscheduled Schumann Quartet No 3 in A. This was stirring stuff and by the end few would have nursed any resentments at missing one of the promised works.

After an interval of nearly half an hour (with no bar and few facilities) they overcame the shortcomings of the concert organisation with a spirited and mature reading of Haydn’s Quartet in B flat Opus 76 No 4 (Sunrise) that justified the accolades they have received.

The tour de force of the evening was back to “first beginnings” for Rochdale-born composer Alec Roth with the World premier of his guitar quintet.

Approximately 26 minutes long this eclectic mix of modern compositional styles worked beautifully for this combination. It incorporating references to Flamenco, South American Tango music, gypsy fiddles, even Mantovani’s singing strings, plus several permutations of string sounds – plucked, bowed, muted, harmonics, even novel ways of using the bodies of the instruments. This proved to be an imaginative exploration that was challenging for the players and accessible and enjoyable for the audience. We need to hear more of his music.

Next season begins at Rochdale Town Hall with an organ recital by Gordon Stewart on Saturday 14 October 2006.

The Sacconi Quartet with Morgan Szymanski guitar
The Broadfield Hotel
Sunday 30 April 2006