Last updated 05:36, Friday, 04 July 2008

Lanercost Festival – Chetham’s School of Music.Anyone who had heard the concert given by the string section of Chetham’s School at last year’s Lanercost Festival would have had high expectations for this year’s offerings from their wind and brass players together with a pianist.

This year the audience was treated to a well-balanced programme which once again demonstrated the technical skill, and – more importantly – the sheer musicianship of these students who ranged in age from 14 to 17. Flute, clarinet, and bassoon players represented the woodwind and two trumpeters and a tuba player the brass, all of whom took full advantage of the priory’s wonderful acoustics.

It is probably more difficult to wow an audience with brass instruments because the repertoire is much more modern and has often been written by specialist composers to show off the technical prowess of the players. Such pieces are consequently demanding of the listener as well as the performer. That every single contributor rose to the technical challenges of this ambitious programme and still managed to maintain sensitivity whilst revealing the musical threads is therefore particularly praiseworthy. The more lyrical passages were superbly played and one aspect that was noteworthy was the ability to articulate the attack of notes in quieter sections.

To single out an individual from the performers is difficult but the pianist, Cason Klang, was unique as the only ‘non-blower’. He gave a particularly mature interpretation of Chopin’s Ballade No 1 in G minor, despite the acoustics being less helpful to the piano.

Mention should also be made of the accompanist, Silvia Fraser, who supported many of the players with great skill and empathy.

PHILIP BROWN