Press

"I LOVE Mulled Wine Concerts as they are so intimate.
See you soon
With gratitude, Helen"

Reviews

Review of piano recital by Michael Endres

8 April 2022, Anzac Hall Featherston

Michael Endres, an outstanding German pianist now based in Christchurch, offered to give us `short and crisp' introductions to the works in the programme at his recent concert in Featherston. They were much appreciated by the agreeably mixed-age audience. Endres not only introduced us to the five composers, comparing their characters and the circumstances of their writing, but clearly, warmly and precisely described their style - the classical perfection of Mozart in his Sonata K282, the inward-looking romanticism of Scenes from childhood/Kinderszenen by Schumann, the outward searchings of Liszt's Vallée d'Obermann, the spectacular jazz melodies of three songs by George Gershwin, and finally, in a charming encore, some traditional German dances arranged by Schubert.

Endres reminded us that the Mozart, Schumann and Liszt works were all originally performed in small, intimate spaces, with audiences able to see and hear the artist clearly. The Anzac Hall lends itself well to this sort of recital. The acoustics are lively, the seats are arranged in a semi-circle widely spaced for these Covid times, and the town's leaders beam down appreciatively from the wooden walls.

What a joy to see and hear a pianist of this calibre demonstrating with warmth, passion and phenomenal technique the full range of tonal colour and dynamics of his instrument.

A video was made of the recital on Friday 8 April. If you would like to watch it, please send a message to marygow@gmail.com who will send it to youu on Dropbox, in return for a donation. All proceeds go to Michael Endres.

For a complete change, the third Mulled Wine Concert of the season on 27 May will feature Rodger Fox with an extended jazz ensemble and special guest Erna Ferry.

Marion Townend

Marion is on the board of the Martinborough Music Festival and plays violin and viola in the Martinborough String Quartet/Quintet


<< Return to Reviews