Piano Recital with style

The annual Piano Recital was a triumph, showcasing some of the outstanding musical talent of the pianists at Caterham School.

The recital commenced with two Diabelli duets, performed by Elissa L (Second Year). She captured the character of both pieces and demonstrated excellent rapport with her duet partner. Jiayi L (Fifth Year) then performed Mozart’s Fantasia in D minor, featuring wonderful lyrical voicing throughout and bringing out the melodic passages with excellent clarity and precision.

Leyani G (Fourth Year) performed Albéniz’s Rumores de la Caleta, fully embracing the dance style, cantabile melodies, and passionate nature of the piece. This was followed by Eugenie C (Fourth Year), who performed Arensky’s warm and elegant Nocturne in D-flat major. Eugenie expressed the poetic and tender character of this emotional piano work beautifully.

Spencer T (Upper Sixth) performed Allegro moderato from Schubert’s Six Moments Musicaux. This was a polished and musical performance, encapsulating both the energetic left-hand writing and the wistful elegance of the melodic lines. Following this, Ayrton N (Lower Sixth) performed Brahms’s intense and passionate Rhapsody in B minor. This performance was full of charisma and gusto throughout, and Ayrton fully embraced the stormy, agitato essence of the piece.

Ethan G (Upper Sixth) performed a beautiful work by Jianzhong Wang, Glowing Red Morningstar Lilies. Ethan brought out the impressionistic essence of the piece, creating a vast palette of tonal colour throughout. This was followed by Hongzi Z (First Year), who gave a flawless, elegant, and convincing performance of Chopin’s Nocturne in E major. This was something really rather special. Hongzi captured the detailed nuances of the piece and demonstrated outstanding placement and voicing of both melodic and countermelodic ideas throughout.

The recital concluded with two spectacular performances of Chopin’s monumental Ballades: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, performed by Rex L (Fifth Year), and Ballade No. 4 in F minor, performed by Rodney L (Upper Sixth). These performances demonstrated outstanding musicianship, technical aptitude, and superb ambition.

All performers are to be congratulated on delivering such professional and stylish performances; this recital was a true celebration of superb piano repertoire and musicianship.