REVIEW

DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM MUSIC SOCIETY

Recital by Michael Petrov and Daniele Rinaldo

IN the highly competitive world of classical music, in order to gain the attention of concert promoters, it is very important for performers to have won a major competition. Both performers in this DCMMS concert were able to tick that box, and were deservedly reaping the rewards of their hard work.

Nominated in 2014 as a European Concert Hall Organisation Rising Star by the Barbican Centre in London, Bulgarian-born cellist Michael Petrov embarked on a recital tour of major concert halls in 18 European states. Whilst the Victorian Gallery in Dorchester obviously was not included in that tour, I doubt that he would have received a warmer welcome, or a more attentive audience, in any of the other venues.

Michael, with accompanist Daniele Rinaldo, performed sonatas by Bach, Beethoven and Rachmaninov.

Originally written for viola da gamba, Bach’s G minor Sonata was the least successful item in the concert, mainly because of sound balance problems between the instruments. I thought Daniele was playing too loudly; maybe the piano lid ought not to have been opened so wide, or perhaps not at all?

Happily, the remaining two Sonatas, by Beethoven and Rachmaninov, didn’t suffer the same problem. The three-movement Beethoven D major Sonata, Opus 102, has a most glorious Adagio, and Michael and Daniele played this superbly. The following Fugal finale was very clearly delivered, featuring very effective adherence to the dynamics.

Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata, composed in 1901 when at the height of his creative powers, contains some fearsomely difficult piano writing. Daniele rose superbly to this challenge, and was obviously more suited to this style of playing than he was in the Bach. There were many glorious moments in all the movements, from the witty scherzo, and the passionate Andante, to the rousing final section of the fourth movement. Both performers deserve much success in their future careers.

RUSSELL DAWSON