Sarah Beth Briggs - Piano October 10th 2024
The
Society’s
66th
season
was
opened
by
Sarah
Beth
Briggs,
a
pianist
of
exceptional
ability,
who
graced
us
with
her
programme
entitled
Variations
Plus,
each
work
containing
variations
on
a
theme.
The
historical
context
of
each
piece
was
given
life
by
Sarah’s
informative
introductions,
helping
the
audience
to
understand
each
musical
scene.
Whilst
performing
with
great
and
at
times
animated
passion,
Sarah
somehow
maintained
a
paradoxical
calm
demeanour as she worked her magic through each variation.
Performing
in
the
wonderful
setting
of
the
Victorian
Assembly
Room,
at
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
Sarah
opened
with
Haydn’s
Variations
on
Gott
erhalte
Franz
den
Kaiser,
God
save
Franz
the
Emperor.
With
refined
and
delicate
opening
notes,
she
immediately
established
an
inspiring
presence
at
the
piano,
making
full
use
of
the
Steinway’s
dynamic
range
in
well-shaped
phrases and clearly contrasted variations – setting the standard for the evening.
Beethoven’s
Sonata
in
A
flat
major
presented
a
series
of
scenes
that
all
might
identify
with,
from
a
lyrical
opening,
gentle
and
colourful,
on
to
a
vigorously
intense
Scherzo,
and
then
the
evocative
‘Funeral
March’,
and
finally
the
revitalising
Rondo
Allegro.
Sarah’s
skill
and
abilities
were
underlined
in
a
virtuosic
performance,
with
perfect
balance
of
melody
and
accompaniment.
Sarah
closed
the
first
half
with
Mendelssohn
Variations
Sérieuses;
another
superlative
performance
in
which
she
seemed
to
exist
within
the
piece
-
playing
it
with
brilliance,
furious
passion
and
an
involving
intensity
of
contrasting
moods;
a
musical
roller-
coaster
holding
the
audience
on
the
edge
of
their
seats,
before
providing
a
serene
respite
and then up again.
Deftly
weaving
through
the
familiar
sounding
Beethoven’s
Variations
on
God
Save
the
King,
Sarah
gracefully
reflected
the
contrasting
moods
of
the
piece.
A
Schubert
Impromptu
in
B
flat
was
another
well-crafted
performance
in
which
Sarah
shared
a
variety
of
moods:
tender,
sparkling,
poetic,
energetic
and
deeply
thoughtful.
Her
rendition
of
a
Chopin
Berceuse
was
gentle,
hypnotic
and
enchanting.
This
was
followed
by
a
dramatic
and
uncompromising
performance
of
Chopin’s
F
minor
Ballade,
seemingly
expressing
the
experiences
of
a
lifetime.
Sarah
dedicated
a
delightful
encore,
Over
the
Rainbow,
to
the
memory
of
the
late
Eifion
Griffiths,
well
known
to
her,
and
for
many
years
the
Society’s
Concert
Secretary. This ended an evening of impassioned physical performance, precise and accomplished. IM
Sarah Beth Briggs - Piano
October 10th 2024
The
Society’s
66th
season
was
opened
by
Sarah
Beth
Briggs,
a
pianist
of
exceptional
ability,
who
graced
us
with
her
programme
entitled
Variations
Plus,
each
work
containing
variations
on
a
theme.
The
historical
context
of
each
piece
was
given
life
by
Sarah’s
informative
introductions,
helping
the
audience
to
understand
each
musical
scene.
Whilst
performing
with
great
and
at
times
animated
passion,
Sarah
somehow
maintained
a
paradoxical
calm
demeanour
as
she
worked
her
magic
through each variation.
Performing
in
the
wonderful
setting
of
the
Victorian
Assembly
Room,
at
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
Sarah
opened
with
Haydn’s
Variations
on
Gott
erhalte
Franz
den
Kaiser,
God
save
Franz
the
Emperor.
With
refined
and
delicate
opening
notes,
she
immediately
established
an
inspiring
presence
at
the
piano,
making
full
use
of
the
Steinway’s
dynamic
range
in
well-
shaped
phrases
and
clearly
contrasted
variations
–
setting
the
standard
for
the
evening.
Beethoven’s
Sonata
in
A
flat
major
presented
a
series
of
scenes
that
all
might
identify
with,
from
a
lyrical
opening,
gentle
and
colourful,
on
to
a
vigorously
intense
Scherzo,
and
then
the
evocative
‘Funeral
March’,
and
finally
the
revitalising
Rondo
Allegro.
Sarah’s
skill
and
abilities
were
underlined
in
a
virtuosic
performance,
with
perfect
balance
of
melody
and
accompaniment.
Sarah
closed
the
first
half
with
Mendelssohn
Variations
Sérieuses;
another
superlative
performance
in
which
she
seemed
to
exist
within
the
piece
-
playing
it
with
brilliance,
furious
passion
and
an
involving
intensity
of
contrasting
moods;
a
musical
roller-coaster
holding
the
audience
on
the
edge
of
their
seats,
before
providing a serene respite and then up again.
Deftly
weaving
through
the
familiar
sounding
Beethoven’s
Variations
on
God
Save
the
King,
Sarah
gracefully
reflected
the
contrasting
moods
of
the
piece.
A
Schubert
Impromptu
in
B
flat
was
another
well-crafted
performance
in
which
Sarah
shared
a
variety
of
moods:
tender,
sparkling,
poetic,
energetic
and
deeply
thoughtful.
Her
rendition
of
a
Chopin
Berceuse
was
gentle,
hypnotic
and
enchanting.
This
was
followed
by
a
dramatic
and
uncompromising
performance
of
Chopin’s
F
minor
Ballade,
seemingly
expressing
the
experiences
of
a
lifetime.
Sarah
dedicated
a
delightful
encore,
Over
the
Rainbow,
to
the
memory
of
the
late
Eifion
Griffiths,
well
known
to
her,
and
for
many
years
the
Society’s
Concert
Secretary.
This
ended
an
evening
of
impassioned
physical
performance,
precise
and accomplished.
IM
