Review of Weymouth Lunchtime Chamber Concert

Wednesday 27th January 2016

AN AMAZINGLY talented young musician wowed her audience at the Weymouth Lunchtime Chamber Concert last Wednesday.

17 year-old Polly Bartlett, oboe and recorders, first shot to fame by gaining the highest Grade 8 music examination mark in the whole United Kingdom.

Now in her final year at Bournemouth School, Polly has been offered scholarships at all four of the principal London Music Colleges.

Polly’s piano accompanist Duncan Honeybourne – now known and praised throughout Europe, needs no further introduction here in Weymouth.

Unsurprisingly, Duncan and Polly played most beautifully throughout – with great sensitivity, enthusiasm, technical prowess and perfect accord.

Most of the programme was devoted to treble recorder or oboe with piano. The music was mostly composed by Telemann and his contemporaries – 17th - 18th centuries. Strongly rhythmical (Polly often dances as she plays), and easy on the ear, everything delighted the audience.

Three more or less modern works added variety; Rubbra's haunting 1st movement from his Sonata in C, Gordon Jacob's jolly burlesque Alla Rumba (both treble recorder) and Britten's Pan from Metamorphoses after Ovid (oboe), strongly reminiscent of Debussy’s Syrinx (flute).

The concert was a resounding success and fun from beginning to end. Polly exited with a great piece – gypsy like music for solo sopranino recorder, the highest one of all.

*The next WLCC concert will be on Wednesday 17th February 2016 in St. Mary’s Church Weymouth. Abbi Temple soprano and Duncan Honeybourne piano will be the musicians – both musical professionals born and bred in Weymouth.

JANET FERRETT