Close Up Concert – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

This delightful concert of short musical gems featured flautist Helen Wilson accompanied by pianist Benjamin Powell. All six pieces included in this performance spanned four centuries and three continents and both Wilson and Powell performed with great relish and precision.

The concert featured the beautiful and haunting Flute Sonata in F,Op.1 No 2 composed by Anna Bon who was born in Italy in 1738. This particular sonata (in three movements) was originally composed around 1756 and shows an exquisite emotional depth. Wilson’s performance is utter perfection.

Danza de la Mariposa by the American composer Valerie Coleman is a modern piece that is inspired by the various types of butterflies that live across South America. Musically it actually captures the translucent qualities of a butterfly in flight, it is a quirky and tremendously colourful piece, once again superbly performed by Wilson.

French composer Lili Boulanger’s Two Pieces for Flute and Piano is a charming and delicate piece of music and both Wilson and Powell delivered a wistful and harmonious rendition of this French classic. Boulanger tragically died at the age of 24 and we can only surmise judging from this composition that she would have been destined to become one of France’s greatest composers.

This exquisite concert also included Shulamit Ran’s complex and urgent piece Birds of Paradise (2014). It is, without doubt an extraordinary and vividly bold soundscape, rich in texture and tone throughout its three short movements. I particularly enjoyed the sheer energy and boldness of this piece.

 Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s Noa Noa (1992) is an often sparkling and evocative piece of music that is both thought provoking and challenging in equal measure. Voice and electronic sound enhanced the intrigue of Saariaho’s curious composition.

Finally, Japanese composer Yuko Uebayashi’s Sonata for Flute and Piano is a wonderfully lyrical and meditative piece of music, it wouldn’t sound out of place in a Final Fantasy game, majestic and opulent and very cinematic.  it was probably my favourite composition of the night.

This was a truly inspired and beautiful evening of eclectic music.  Wilson and Powell performed with great aplomb and gave masterful performances throughout.

Reviewer: Kiefer Williams

Reviewed: 23^rd October 2023

North West End UK Rating: