Menuhin Room Piano Circle and Friends

 Menuhin Room Piano Circle and Friends, Portsmouth Menuhin Room, Oct 11

In the unlikely event that the wireless ever wants me as a presenter, I hope it's not for the Breakfast Show. Andrew McVittie's 11 a.m. start for his charity gala show was plenty early enough for me. 

Menuhin Room regular, Ashton Gray, set off with some ever cheery, even jocular, Haydn before we became pre-dominantly Romantic but continued with the more demanding Nocturne by Barber with its lyricism homage to John Field. Christine Limb to the left of Andrew next played Joplin's Bethena as recently heard in Gavin Stevens's solo piano performance in the cathedral. Strange to say, perhaps, but it struck me that Scott Joplin and Haydn could be very distantly related in their happy formulations.

Jacqueline Lopez immediately became my favourite El Salvadorean flautist, accompanied by the busy Liam Rowe, in Widor's Suite for Flute and Piano. Widor is one of classical music's 'one-hit wonders' with his famous Toccata and from that you'd never guess that this floating, sometimes soaring and intricate piece was also by him. Whereas the Toccata by Khachaturian in Christine's front-foot, imposing account might have been. Almost as forthright in places was the Chopin Polonaise, op. 26 no. 1, with Stephen Priestman in stalwart form to take us to what was only halfway.

Liam's transcription of Rach 2 was a whistle-stop tour of the evergreen favourite done with verve and fluidity but, given his workload in this event, Andrew stepped in with an evocative reading of Grieg's Nocturne before he was back to accompany Anne White's flute in the Andante from Mendelssohn's Trio for Flute, Piano & Cello (without cello) which was mellow in its oxymoronic 'subdued gaiety'.

Miriam Sampson's Schumann Arabesque shifted in mood beautifully before ending gently.

Liam's Rachmaninnov would have made for a grand finale, one might have thought, if Michael George's Chopin Ballade no. 1, op. 23, hadn't been waiting in ambush. His impassioned, bravura performance completed two hours of tremendous value that absolutely flew by, which is always an indication that time has been well spent and thoroughly involvingly.

Top marks to all involved, especially Andrew as both performer and debonair host, who did so mostly as 'amateurs' which means for the love of it as well as not getting paid. It wasn't so badly attended given the ungodly hour it began at. I didn't see Burlington Bertie there. I understand he only rises at 10.30. But it is to be hoped that the Music Fusion charity benefits from their efforts, the artistic success of the event notwithstanding.