What
better venue than the plush surroundings of the Cheltenham Town
Hall, to witness a night of such beautiful and persuasive music?
Ludovico
Einaudi (piano) played original compositions, with the occasional,
but magnificent, assistance of Marco Decimo (cello).
The first part of the performance featured pieces from Una Mattina
- One Morning, their latest CD release. This was soft, gentle, expressive
music that flowed beautifully.
The
audience were treated to a rolling cascade of rounded 'marshmallow'
notes - easy to listen to, but graceful and engrossing in their
complexity. I was surprised to find myself thinking more of indie
band Coldplay, than say Mozart or Tchaikovsky.
I was
also reminded of the works of George Martin and Paul McCartney.
Some sections were like a 'dub' mix of a Beatles track, with everything
'dropped out' apart from the piano.
This was a classical performance, but with no sheet music in sight
- unpretentious and accessible. This music screamed out to me "please
use me on a film soundtrack".
It
was no surprise to learn that Ludovicos' music has featured in several
films including Da Qualche Parte in Città, Acquario, Giorni
Dispari, television film - Zhivago, and most recently award winning
Sotto Falso Nome.
Landscape
Marcos'
cello playing was extremely complimentary and allowed a landscape
to be painted. It evoked a soft rolling hill, with the piano notes
floating like fluffy clouds over the lush soundscape. I was particularly
impressed with the rich texture of the notes played in the lower
octaves.
This
gentle music impressed me as being like soft droplets of sound that
fell on my open ears and flooded me with a feeling of calm and reflection.
|
Ludovico
Einaudi and Marco Decimo |
Ludovico's
music is very beautiful and dreamlike. There was a striking clarity
to the compositions performed. Being very concise, each note was
carefully tailored to suit the emotional expression of its composer.
This was a spectacular concert, played from memory, as I believe
all music should be.
The endless queue of fans waiting for autographs at the end of the
concert assured me that I was not alone in appreciating this fine
composer and his musical partner. What a graceful, relaxing and
reflective evening it was. Thank you.
Review
and live photos by Andy Sutcliffe
Archive photo used with the permission Titti Santini (Manager)
This
article is user-generated content (i.e. external contribution) expressing
a personal opinion, not the views
of BBC Gloucestershire.
If
you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
or have your say on our messageboard
|