Reviews
classicalsource.com, 29 September 2010
IMS Prussia Cove in Cambridge
Link to the review by Emily DeVoto of the concert at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, on Wednesday 29 September 2010
Cornishman and West Briton, 8 April 2010
Magnificent start to new IMS season
MAGNIFICENT instrumental playing by world-famed musicians made the opening concert of the International Musicians' Seminar (IMS) Prussia Cove, a very special occasion on Easter Saturday.
Over 450 from throughout the county packed the Community Centre at Marazion to listen to brilliant performances of three sonatas by Beethoven and a Dvorak quintet, led by such stars in the musical firmament as cellist and IMS artistic director Steven Isserlis and renowned pianist András Schiff.
With them were Thomas Riebl (viola), Erich Höbarth and Gerhard Schulz (violin) and Alasdair Beatson (piano), all major European performers.
They are among the Maestri who are encouraging nearly 150 talented students from over 20 countries worldwide to develop their musicianship this month (April) at Master Classes in West Cornwall.
Audiences have taken remarkable Maestri concerts almost for granted over the years: this was an extra –special event with such distinguished artistes together on one programme and also assisting brilliant chamber musicians of the future.
The youthful talents on violin, viola, cello and piano come from countries as diverse as Japan and Canada, Australia and Bulgaria, Switzerland, South Korea New Zealand, Italy and many from the UK and USA over three weeks.
Another Maestri concert is being given at Truro (Tuesday), and by students at St Buryan church (April 16) and Paul church (April 17), all starting at 7.30pm.
At Marazion the Beethoven sonatas for violin, viola and cello were given memorable interpretations, with the contrasting personal styles of Isserlis and Schiff bringing a hypnotic and breathtaking performance in the cello sonata Op. 102, written 195 years ago during the composer's last great period.
When five players combined for the Dvorak piano quintet in A major their energy and enjoyment were conveyed to the audience with enormous excitement, bringing them back to repeat the radiant Scherzo movement.
During the Open Chamber Music seminar in September there will be concerts at Porthleven, Truro, St Michael's Mount, St Gluvias, St Buryan, St Erth, St Ives and Marazion between 10th and 26th.
Douglas Williams