DUNCAN HONEYBOURNE RECITAL, St Mary's Church, Weymouth, by JANET FERRETT

FOR the second time running a change of programme was needed, this time because the advertised cellist, Graham du Plessis, decided to play in a concert in Israel instead. However, again we had a superb replacement in pianist Duncan Honeybourne, who stepped into the breach at short notice with a most delightful programme of 19th century Romantic music.

Duncan started with two masterpieces by Brahms. The Rhapsody in G minor was highly charged and passionate - a gem of sublime profundity'. The Intermezzo in A which followed was a particularly exquisite and beautifully sculpted example of Brahms's later, more mature and contemplative style.

After the Brahms, Duncan played a much earlier work by Schumann - his Carnival. This is a musical depiction of a masquerade, in 21 short movements. Pierrot, Harlequin, Pantalon and Columbine all appear, as well as pieces in the style of devilish Paganini and the lyrical Chopin.

As we have come to expect, Duncan performed the programme with his usual mastery, style and panache. My daughter-in-law said she wanted to shout 'yahoo!' at the end but feared it might not have gone down well.

The next Weymouth Lunchtime Chamber Concert will be on Wednesday, May 7 at 1pm in St Mary's Church, Weymouth, when Jonathan Moody (oboe) and Roz Curlitt (cello) from Bryanston School will join Duncan Honeybourne.

8:02am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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