CHRISTMAS BRASS BAND CONCERT

A permanent wave of silver hair rippled across the auditorium on Friday marking the start of the Christmas season for us. It was the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama's annual brass band concert at St David's Hall. A very jolly programme included Santa Claus-Trophobia, by Sandy Smith, A Christmas Fantasy by Gordon Langford, and tunes by James Last, Leroy Anderson and others with audience participation singing the usual popular carols. 
     All the students dressed up, decorated their instruments with gold and red tinsel, some wore santa  hats and reindeer ears. There were outstanding solo performances by Megan Alexander, Matthew Fletcher and Grant Jameson, conducted by Dr Robert Childs, a leading figure in the world of brass music. It was a really fun hour of entertainment.  The band will be playing again at the RWCMD this Friday, 12 December at 1.15pm. If you want cheering up, don't miss it!

GUITAR DUO: OLIVIER CHASSAIN & STEIN-ERIK OLSEN

Thursday night saw us sitting in a half empty auditorium to see a world premiere. Norwegian Stein-Erik Olsen and French Olivier Chassain performed the guitar compositions of Ida Presti  (1924-1967). The programme is described as a 'homage' to her and her husband, also a guitarist, Alexandre Lagoya. The duo are described as 'the foremost guitar duo of all times., and Ida Presti as 'the princess of the guitar.'
     
 Olsen and Chassain are a brilliant duo themselves, their virtuoso performances certainly honoured Ida's legacy. Pity that more people were n't there to enjoy and appreciate the performances.

       It would be good to hear a female duo play Ida's work. I wasn't sure if the lack of emotion (apart from in the last piece 'Etude fantastique')  was due to the composition, which even in 'La Hongrosie,' in memory of her mother, seemed to lack passion, or that Olsen and Chassain's interpretation was more intellectual than emotional.  Nevertheless, it was another very enjoyable evening at the Royal Welsh College for Music and Drama.