Charles Wadsworth & Friends at the Trustees Theater

February 2, 2008

On Saturday, February 2, 2008, the Savannah Concert Association and charming Charles Wadsworth presented three talented musicians in a wonderfully varied yet balanced program of twentieth century chamber music.

Pianist Wendy Chen in a brilliant blue gown played a beautifully voiced Steinway imported from Augusta (Trustees Theater, unlike the Lucas, does not have its own grand piano).

Gowned in eye-catching magenta, violinist Chee-Yun performed on the 1708 Stradivarious "Ex-Strauss" violin on a loan from the Samsung Foundation and hers to use as long as she wants.

Cellist Edward Arron, who is becoming Wadsworth's assistant presenter/commentater (or, as Wadsworth declared, his "assistant legend") played his 1800 Vincent Panormo London-built instrument, which he has owned since his 18th birthday.

Opening the program, Chee-Yun and Chen gave Stravinsky's Suite Italienne for Violin and Piano an informed and well-balanced reading. From the "Introduzione" with its familiar theme from the 18th century's Giovanni Pergolesi, through the virtuosic "Scherzino," to the un-Stravinskian "Minuetto" and strong "Finale," the piano and violin shared the stage in a superb collaboration.

Next, Chen and Arron performed a Primrose 1940's transcription of the aria in Hietor Villa-Lobos' beloved Bachianas Brasilieras #5. Written originally for eight cellos and a soprano (obbligato), this transcription/adaptation requires the piano to represent the largely staccato/pizzicato cello chorus while the cello sings the romantic soprano role. A challenging task beautifully accomplished.

Paul Schoenfield's jazzy, ragtime, Gershwinesque Café Music for Piano, Violin, and Cello was a smile-inducing treat and a perfect, lively vehicle for the trio who obviously enjoyed performing it. This mid-eighties piece was designed to be as at home in a supper/dance club as in a concert hall. The "Andante" in three sections called out for a bluesy torch singer (Peggy Lee, anybody?) to join the trio.

The second half of the program was wonderfully filled by Felix Mendelssohn's Trio in C Minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello. The opening "Allegro's" lovely theme is passed among the trio in a Rondo manner. After the dreamy "Andante" came the "Scherzo"--reminiscent of the compositional colors in Mendelssohn's incidental music for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The concert closed with a big finale—"Allegro appassionato"—and left us wanting more. These performances, brought to us by the SCA and dear, durable Charles Wadsworth, truly reward Savannah's appreciative chamber music audience.

— Review by Fred Johnson