Review: Rory Carver, The Hill Quartet and Benjamin Mead, Coffee Concert, King's Lynn Town Hall

This year sees the 150th Anniversary of Vaughan Williams’s birth, and nationally there have been many celebrations to mark it.

The composer did visit Lynn in the early 20th century to collect folk songs and subsequently to attend the King’s Lynn Festival.

One of his works I’ve wanted to become more familiar with is his song cycle On Wenlock Edge, a setting of poems by AE Houseman, so I was delighted when I was given the chance to hear it at a Coffee Concert.

Rory Carver, tenor, gave a fine interpretation of the cycle, giving a sensitively thoughtful rendition of the songs, with a clear and powerful voice. The Hill Quartet and pianist Benjamin Mead supported Rory, with the necessary musicianship and power.

Antonín Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No.2, Op.81 was the second work on the programme, a complex, grand, romantic piece, popular from it’s first performance, but skilfully combing a traditional 19th century mid-European style with Slavonic and Czech folk elements. The performers played with passion and a rich style suited to the score.

Another fine Coffee Concert, sponsored by Mike and Diana Brindle.

Andy Tyler