A lovely program of two
sonatas coupled with character pieces: the first half devoted to Prokofieff,
opening with the Five Melodies, then the F minor sonata. The second half was
given to Ravel, ending with Tzigane.
Ms. Jansen is an elegant, refined and
dignified artist; her pianist, rather less so. The concert left a strange
taste. The Five Melodies have such delicacy, sumptuous harmonies and wry pathos
- It seemed that the violinist didn't play through to the heart of the music
here and throughout the evening. Perhaps she was accommodating the headstrong
brashness of her partner, who, if not necessarily overpowering in volume, was
thick, his impasto strokes wearying the listener very quickly. The Sonata was
missing a steely bitterness from both players, and in the opening movement, her
scales that represent the wind over the graves were even and pristine though
not bone-chilling.
