DUOS FEATURED ON WESTMINSTER CONCERT SERIES PROGRAM MONDAY

WESTMINSTER CONCERT SERIES, Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Oct. 27

When you hear about a program called “An Evening in Vienna” you immediately think about Johann Strauss and Franz Léhar. But Monday’s Westminster Concert Series concert took its audience to earlier generations of composers who called the Austrian capital their home: Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms.

It was a remarkable evening of duets played by a quartet of exceptionally musical and perceptive musicians.

Lun Jiang and Hyunsoon Whang (Photo: Courtesy of Westminster Concert Series)

The program opened with Beethoven’s Cello Sonata in A major, op. 69, played by sisters Pegsoon Whang, cello, and a member of the Utah Symphony, and Hyunsoon Whang, piano. The two underscored the delightful lyricism of the work with their finely crafted treatment. They played with sweeping lines and broad gestures that captured the effusive character of the score.

After the Beethoven, Hyunsoon Whang returned to the stage, this time with Westminster Concert Series director and pianist Karlyn Bond, for an imaginative reading of Schubert’s Fantasie in F minor for Piano Four Hands, D. 940. The two were well matched for this piece, in that they brought wonderfully nuanced and expressive playing that was well balanced to their perceptive interpretation. They played off each other almost intuitively, to the point where they melded effortlessly into one, yet there was also clarity and clean definition that made each part distinctive.

Closing the program was Utah Symphony violinist Lun Jiang in Brahms’ lyrical and reflective Violin Sonata in D minor, op. 108.

Jiang, joined by Whang at the piano, brought feeling and depth to his account. He played with effusive emotions that were never overdone. There is a touch of sentimentality that runs through the work, but Jiang never exploited that. He brought passion to his reading, to be sure, but it was always sensitively nuanced and executed.

Whang was once again the ideal partner. Her playing supported Jiang’s part while maintaining her distinctive voice as well. Their collaboration allowed for polished and refined playing that served the music well.

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About Edward Reichel

Edward Reichel, author, writer and composer, has been covering the classical music scene in Utah since 1997. For many years he served as the primary music critic for the Deseret News. He has also written for a number of publications, including Chamber Music Magazine, OPERA Magazine, 15 Bytes, Park City Magazine and Salt Lake Magazine. He holds a Ph.D. in composition from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He can be reached at ed.reichel@gmail.com. Reichel Recommends is also on Twitter @ReichelArts.

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