Concert Duo Melis
This afternoon the preliminaries of the Axis Guitar Competition were held, so as usual we got announcements and the results before the evening concert. The finalists were in order of appearance in the finals Ruben Bettencourt, Michal Stanikowski, Albert Pia, Fabian Freesen and Jona Kesteleyn.
The first evening concert brought the surprise of this festival. The Duo Melis, consisting of Susana Prieto en Alexis Muzarakis, replaced Yves Storms and the Spiegelkwartet because an injury prevented Yves from playing.
They played the concert in a remarkable ‘very close’ line-up. A bit less stereo effect, but it appeared vital for the unity of the music.
Duo Melis started with dazzling fireworks. A few dances from the Zarzuela La Vida Breve and the ballet suite El Sombrero de Tres Picos by Manuel de Falla. One of these dances was the Danza de la Molinera, which is played solo as well.
Hearing a spectacular performance like the one Duo Melis brought on stage, the titles of pieces become less important. It was bright and dazzling music with rapid role changes between the duo partners, something I particularly like in duo music.
The next piece was more polished and classical minded. Valses Poeticos, a set of six waltzes by Enrique Granados. My favourite performance of this piece was by Alicia de Laroccha on piano. I write ‘was’, because I’ve got another favourite now! Duo Melis played the piece witth a delightful balance between passion and peace. I guess it is impossible to play it so beautifully guitaristic on the piano!
The last piece before the break brought us the Argentine tango: Otono Porteno from the ‘four seasons’ by Astor Piazzola. It was an emotional arrangement, Duo Melis fully exploited the atmosphere of this piece.
After the break we went back in time with a few pieces -La de Caze, La D’ Hericourt and La Suzanne- by Claude Benigne Balbastre, a pupil of Jean Philippe Rameau. A nice and well played piece of French Baroque which clearly showed specific characteristics like the swinging bass line from Barricades Mysterieuses by Couperin.
Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco composed the spectacular Sonata Canonica. The spectacular was in the first and third movement, the lyrical Sicilienne brought the delightful peace after all agitation in the music.
The last piece was Danzas Argentinas, a composition by Alberto Ginastera. If you are used to the sound of his Sonate Op. 47, I guess you can appreciate this composition too! Duo Melis played three dances, the dansant Danza del Viejo Boyero (the old fisherman), the sweet Danza de la Moza Dolosa (the beautiful girl) and the firm Danza del Gaucho Matrero (the nomad).
After the standing ovation they played an oncall. Unfortunately I forgot its title, but as I said, sometimes titles do not matter.
My impression? I was completely surprised, such an ensemble, such a unity! Everything fit seamlessly. Particularly the tone of Susana Prieto excelled in all registers, also on the Mount Everest of the highest frets, where she dwelled quite some time!
I absolutely enjoyed it!