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| Stan and Monica Kornel |
Wesley Music Centre
Sunday 9 February
Monica Kornel, harpsichord
Stan Kornel, violin,
viola d’amore and pochette
Reviewed by Len Power
It might have been a farewell concert by leading music
ensemble, the Sydney Consort, but these excellent musicians did not allow any
emotion to get in the way as they delivered a superbly played concert for their
appreciative audience in the Wesley Music Centre.
The Sydney Consort has been devoted to early music of the
17th and 18th century, as well as contemporary Australian music on period
instruments, providing excellent historically informed music to a wide
audience. One of the ensemble’s visions has
been to “revive” forgotten music and works by obscure composers, unpublished
scores and rarely performed compositions which still deserve to be presented. They are renowned internationally as well as
locally in Australia.
Their farewell concert consisted of music that audiences had
asked them to perform again. The program
included music by JS Bach, Handel, Castello, Vivaldi and Royer, amongst others.
Monica Kornel played on a French Double Harpsichord and Stan
Kornel played violin, viola d’amore and a pochette.
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| Stan Kornel compares the pochette with the violin |
The concert commenced with Bach’s sonata for violin and
harpsichord. This work with contrasting
slow and fast movements was very well-played.
Especially notable was the depth of feeling in the playing of the third
movement and the high energy performance of the fourth and final movement.
Other highlights of the concert included Handel’s viola
d’amore Sonata which featured Stan Kornel’s mastery of this period instrument,
Royer’s March of the Scythes, played with great energy and colour by Monica
Kornel on harpsichord and an extraordinary performance of Michel Corrette’s
Giga from Sonata in D Major by Stan Kornel on his tiny Pochette instrument made
from the remains of a damaged violin.
There was also a fine performance of the Sonata by Dario
Castello, a haunting work of great beauty, and their vivid and colourful
playing of Vivaldi’s sonata was delightful.
Ground after the Scotch Humor, by Nicola Matteis was played with great
energy and precision, bringing this fine concert to a close.
With his characteristic quiet humour, Stan Kornel thanked
the audience for their support over the years and he and Monica left the stage
to enthusiastic and heart-felt applause.
Photos by Peter Hislop
Photos by Peter Hislop
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 10 February 2020
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.