LAUREL ANN MAURER, “FOUR CENTURIES OF FLUTE MUSIC,” Dumke Recital Hall, University of Utah, June 2
Laurel Ann Maurer is without doubt one of the top flutists today. She possesses an exquisite tone, remarkable technique and wonderful musicality, all of which combine to allow her to raise the bar on flute playing. Maurer is also a fine interpreter of all musical periods, including today’s and a number of composers have written works for her.
A former resident of Utah who now makes her home in Vermont, Maurer was in town this week and on Thursday presented a marvelous concert that spotlighted her amazing talent.
Maurer’s concert exploring 400 years of the flute repertoire started with J.S. Bach’s Sonata in E flat for Flute and Continuo, BWV 1031. She was joined by harpsichordist Pam Jones and viola da gamba player Richard Jones, and the three gave a nuanced account with finely balanced playing. The middle movement Siciliana was particularly expressive.
The Bach was followed by Theobald Boehm’s Introduction and Variations on Paisiello’s “Nel Cor Piu.” Boehm was a noted flutist himself as well as an accomplished composer, and this set of variations is a stunning showpiece for the flutist. Maurer, accompanied by Jones at the piano, showed her mastery of her instrument in a tour de force performance that was flawlessly executed and delivered.
Changing character, Maurer and Jones were joined by fellow flutist Nancy Toone in a captivating arrangement of the “Flower Duet” from Léo Delibes’ opera Lakmé. The two flutists sounded wonderful together and they gave a poetic and expressive reading of this well known piece.
The first half closed with Paul Hindemith’s intense Sonata for Flute and Piano. Maurer and Jones again exhibited first rate ensemble play, giving a dynamic account that was rich in expressions and emotions.
Maurer opened the second half with Claude Debussy’s gorgeous Syrinx for solo flute. Her seamless playing captured the sensuality and lushness of the music beautifully.
The rest of the program was devoted to two works by Vermont composer David Gunn: Lunar Mural I, written for Maurer, and The Conchoid of Nicomedes.
Lunar Mural I is scored for alto flute and recorded sounds that are cleverly integrated. The piece is very atmospheric and melodic and Maurer did a fabulous job bringing cohesion to it.
In The Conchoid of Nicomedes clarinetist Lee Livengood and bassoonist Luke Pfeil joined Maurer and Jones. The piece is vibrant and upbeat. The three woodwind players play pretty much without stop and, together with the pianist, require precision to pull this piece off, and the four certainly had no problem there. Their playing was textured, nuanced and wonderfully musical.