Review of St George's Classical Cafe in Bristol
Posted on: 2015-02-04
Our rating:
These were violin and accordion transcriptions interpreted in the hands of masterful musicians. Dizzying, sublime, energetic, and bubbling with a unique, sweet, cheekily smouldering musical partnership, it was an idiosyncratic, fun gem of a concert.
St George's Classical Cafe - featuring Thomas Gould on violin and Ksenija Sidorova on accordion - was an absolute triumph of music making and entertainment.
Initially, the concept of the two instruments harmonising and riffing of each other might unusual; perhaps not the kind of sonic bedfellows you'd expect. But any doubts as to sonority or compatibility were completely quashed as the two ebbed and flowed, weaved and entwined, delighted and confounded everyone.
The programme was diverse and intriguing, incorporating compositions by Bach, Bartok, Piazolla, Schittke, and Monti, all specially adapted and transcribed for the violin and accordion. Gould and Sidorova sang and danced with their instruments, adroitly alternating between brisk, brief, elegiac, lilting, harmonic, dissonant, passionate, fiery, intense, and occasionally heart-breakingly beautiful.
As much as the music, however, it was the incontrovertible chemistry between the two players that added an extra sparkling frisson to the evening. Playing off each other - almost part buskers, part highly-polished musicians - they engaged in a musical union akin to seductive instrumental intercourse.
Such was their undeniable sympatico that their personal and well as musical kinship made for a palpably, attractively libidinous evening. It was part of the fun, part of the charm, part of the exuberance infused in every piece they played. (At one point you suspected they might just throw down their instruments and engage in writhing, carnal-musical pleasures right there and then, such was their chemistry and magnetism.)
Bach's Sonata for Violin and Keyboard in G and Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances were particular highlights, capturing the complexities and nuances with an exhilarating fluency and gutsiness.
As with many of the recent late night St George's mini concerts (they only last for just over an hour), Gould and Sidorova played to a near-capacity audience who responded with a frenzied, ballistic applause and foot stomping. An encore followed, but everyone could have happily sat through another hours of the duo's music making.
These were violin and accordion transcriptions interpreted in the hands of masterful musicians. Dizzying, sublime, energetic, and bubbling with a unique, sweet, cheekily smouldering musical partnership, it was an idiosyncratic, fun gem of a concert.
5/5
Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
