Review: King's Lynn Coffee Concert, King's Lynn Town Hall

The standards at King’s Lynn Festival Concerts are generally so high that my reviews are almost always full of praise for the performances offered.

Could I then, perhaps, complain about the choice of repertory on the programmes? Well, certainly not in the case of today's King’s Lynn Festival Coffee Concert given by Sirius Chau (flute), and Kumi Matsuo (piano), whose recital comprised of varied, engaging works by CPE Bach (a favourite composer of mine), Debussy, Chopin, Francois Borne and another composer we should get to know better, Cecile Chaminade.

Once again, we had performances of the highest standards, clear, well balanced, tender and reflective when appropriate, and lively, rhythmical and clean when the music dictated.

This musical partnership works well and both these talented artists, both young, but with plenty of experience and maturity will, I’m sure, have first class future careers.

The programme included famous pieces like Debussy’s ‘Prelude A L’Apre-Midi D’un Faune and the familiar Concertino for Flute and Piano, op.107 by Chaminade, and the not-so-well known ‘Hamburg’ Sonata by C.P.E Bach, Chopin Variations on a theme by Rossini (which may have been written when the composer was 14!), and the lively Borne Fantaisie Brillante on Bizet’s Carmen.

The full and enthusiastic audience left the recital at Lynn’s historic Town Hall in good spirits enjoying a very famous Tango Fantasy as encore.

Andy Tyler.