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The OC sponsored Piano Recital by Marko Martin
The OC Society sponsored an excellent Piano Recital in the de Selincourt Room
at Clayesmore by
Marko Martin on Friday
October 20th.
Marko Martin, an Estonian, has been one of the leading lights at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for the last four years. His studies have, in part, been made possible by a scholarship fund from Linklaters & Alliance raised by OC, Lachlan Burn(64-69).
From the first moments of the opening Beethoven Sonata (Op.27 No 1) it was clear to the audience that they were listening to an exceptionally talented pianist, but it was not until we heard the Variations on the theme of Paganini by Brahms that we were dazzled by the breathtakingly brilliant technique of this fine young player. The first half of the programme ended with Liszt's Apr@s une Lecture du Dante - even more technically demanding than the Brahms. Many in the audience where visibly exhausted and seemed to need the interval as much as the pianist! Martin Cooke, the new Headmaster, himself an accomplished musician, sighed 'playing like that makes one want to give up". The second half was devoted to the Brahms F minor Sonata - a massive work.
Since 1955 1 have been taking an interest in Musical events at Clayesmore: as a boy, a master, and as an OC and I could not help realising that in the past 45 years I had never heard a piano played at Clayesmore anywhere near as brilliantly. It was not just the sheer virtuosity that was so evident, but also the mature breadth of interpretation, the dazzling loud passages balanced by the touchingly soft and magical moments, that made this such a wonderful concert. There were moments when we were all holding our breath and were all absorbed by the commitment and genuineness of the performances in a most moving way.
I think it was Arthur Rubinstein who recommended that if a pianist played an encore, the chosen piece should be humable. Marko performed the Schubert G flat impromptu most movingly for his encore, and a lady behind me could not restrain herself.
While driving home to London after the concert, I cast my mind back to my time at Clayesmore. I could not help reflecting how Humphrey Moore, Apples, Spinney and Scad would have enjoyed the performance and it seemed such a pity that this excellent concert had not appealed to many of the present staff. I also cast my mind back to the days when I had to try to persuade pupils of the value of such events and how I always worried at my inability to communicate to my students the importance of good music in everyday life. What is the answer, I still wonder? How does one get across to the younger generations the infinite pleasures of listening to music and a performance of this quality? I do not think compulsion is the answer but on the other hand only a very few student listeners is not the answer either. My sympathy went out to Keith Pigott, the present Director of Music, whom, at times, looked as anxious as I used to feel. I did not see his reaction to the external guitar accompaniment of the slow movement of the Brahms, but I remember just how he must have felt.
The de Selincourt room (known as the drawing room to many of us) is a fine venue and a perfect setting for such a concert, and even if there were not as many students at the concert as might have been hoped for, (and there seldom have been over the years), I am sure many OCs have benefited inestimably from such events, as present and future students will continue to do.
OCs present:
Brigadier Elderkin (and Mrs Elderkin)
Robert Mash
Nick Zelle
Lachlan Burn (and Mrs Jo Burn, Matilda and Alister)
It was also very good to meet Liz Waller at the concert. She was appointed by Ronald Smith in the reign of Peter Burke and she still teaches the flute to Prep school students. This must be a record!
Nick Zelle(55-61)