An Evening of the Classics

Mrs Golding Hosts An Evening of the Classics

May 22 Montego Bay; May 23 Kingston 

The concert, An Evening of the Classics, on May 24 in Kingston, delivered a programme that was delicately balanced to meet the expectations of the aficionado while being gentle to the ears of the novice.

Arranged by Mrs Lorna Golding in her capacity as Chairman of the Jamaica Early Childhood Development Foundation (JECDF), the evening featured chamber music performers who built their selection around the 200th anniversary of the intersection of the death of Joseph Haydn in 1809 with the birth that year of Felix Mendelssohn. This diverse combination moved the audience in time from the classical to the romantic period. Divertimento in e Flat Major for Horn was performed by French hornist William Purvis, who was supported by Kathy Meng Robinson on violin and her husband Keith Robinson on cello.

If the audience found humour in the performance, Haydn may have been pleased as he actively sought to make his audience smile. In this piece he interplayed the distinctive mellowness of the instrument with occasional low notes which had a flatulent character. Mr Purvis’ transition at the end into Bob Marley’s “One Love” melody was immediately recognised and well received by the audience.

Passion took over when Mihae Lee played the opening bars to Mendelssohn’s Piano Trip Number 2 in C Minor 9 (Opus 66). For about half an hour, Ms Lee and the Robinsons delivered an emotionally moving allegro that ended in tension that was slowly released by a more soothing second movement which though not intense, emerged as a soul stirring conversation between the strings.

The third movement – a scherzo – was a refreshing draught that allowed the audience reprieve and freed the ear to fully enjoy the finale that interwove the common Doxology, recalling the composer’s conversion to Christianity. Finishing with a flourish, the group received loud and appreciative applause from the nearly full house. Instrument tone was of the highest quality as the Jamaica School of Music's grand piano was in place for Ms Lee and the Robinson’s vintage woodwinds were first tuned by Italian master violin makers who lived in the era of Haydn and Mendelssohn. This was the second staging of the concert series to raise money for the JECDF. This year, the first leg of the concert was in Montego Bay on May 23.

Mrs Golding included youth performers on both shows including, from Montego Bay, soloists Rory Frankson and Talia Prout; the Montego Bay Infant School; the Montego Bay High School; the Harrison Prep School choir and saxophonist Garfield Lawrence. Sybil’s Music Studio featured violin performances by Catherine Smith, Louis Li and Christian Chin Hing.

In Kingston, the University Singers gave a preview of their upcoming concert series. Youth violinists included the Stephen Woodham trained Ellinor D’Melon who performed Danse Espagnole by Manuel de Falta.

Paulette Bellamy’s Aaron Lawrence had the audience appreciating dancehall on violin with his interpretation of the Mary Poppins favourite Spoonful of Sugar. Also of the Bellamy school, Trio Bella with Nadje Leslie, Rochelle Haynes and Michelle and Gabbadon gave the audience the JCDC festival song favourite Play de Music.

The Alpha Boys Band’s Channeil Christian received warm appreciation from the audience with his trumpet solo on Wonderland By Night. Later, the band delivered an authentic and practiced rendition of the ska staple Man in the Street composed by the school’s greatest past student Don Drummond.

The University Singers delivered sacred music, for the most part, with only Ana Strachan singing Poor Wandering One from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. Her delivery of the bell notes was sound and she was in character with the dramatic comedy necessary for the part. Soloists for the University Singers are in tone for their season that is due to start in a few days. Marcel Thomas Oh Praise the Lord; Roy Thompson; O Love Ye The Lord set the stage for the duet of Stacy Adams and Franklyn Halliburton who delivered the standard hymn Praise the Lord Almighty in a different arrangement. Halliburton’s interpretation of the choral Alleluia (Laudes Creaturarun) was well received and should be a crowd pleaser.

The show was competently compèred by Clauja Berry Alexander and Michael Anthony Cuffe who completed the tone of sophistication carried throughout the occasion. The backdrop, set and production handled by Bert Rose was flawlessly executed as was the sound by Sparkles Disco. During the pre show cocktail hour, the audience was treated to background music by the Immaculate High School Steel Orchestra and the Jamaica Military Band.

 The JECDF has previously assisted the Hope Valley Experimental School to improve the school grounds and also given money to the Jamaica House Basic School. The funds this year will go towards transforming Nanny Yard – the nursery at Jamaica House; an infant school in the Prime Minister’s constituency, a basic school each in the constituency of the Leader of the Opposition, Portia Simpson Miller and Minister of Education, Andrew Holness and two infant schools in Montego Bay.

img: