Janet Banks and Caroline Findlay

Lunchtime at the Cathedral

16.01.09

Paul Bazelaire's Suite Française was the discovery in this recital of Romantic music for cello and piano. Bazelaire was a cellist a hundred years ago, and made this arrangements of folk dances from all over France for his own repertoire. The Chanson d'Alsace, and the charming Berceuse were highlights for me. The Bazelaire was followed by Fauré, Après un Rêve, and in a lively finale. Dvorak's own arrangement of the Slavonic Dance in G minor.

Caroline played a reflective Rachmaninov Prelude as the centrepiece of the programme, which started with a Mendelssohn Song Without Words. Beethoven's Variations on a theme from [Handel's] Judas Macabbeus, splendidly presented by this duo, were a reminder of the earlier repertoire, from the days when the cello was not even a proper solo instrument !

Caroline and Janet are familiar faces at the Cathedral's lunchtime sessions; we hope to welcome them back in future seasons.