The large, enthusiastic audience was entranced by the last Live at Lunch concert for 2015 at the Concourse.
Jane Rutter’s guests this time were the amazing brothers, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, dazzling on classical guitars. They played a range of works from classical/Baroque (Handel for instance) to contemporary, with many pieces featuring their own arrangements. We were privileged to experience their splendid technique; scintillating, captivating sound, and fluid, rhythmic style.
In 2007, ARIA award winning Slava and his gifted brother Leonard toured as a duo throughout Australia, Asia and the Baltic States as well as recording with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. In 2014 the Grigoryan Brothers released their CD, This Time, to much acclaim.
Rutter wore a long lacey black gown with a string of pearls, the Grigoryan brothers were elegant in grey suits. They played intensely, with enormous concentration and an obvious bond. When they played it was generally with their eyes closed. They alternated in introducing the various works .
William Lawes Fantasy On A Theme opened the concert and was played with a deep intensity.
The piece had a very contemporary sound, yet also a Baroque feel. It was full of swirling rhythms and dialogue and the duo played their instruments more like zithers.
Handel’s Organ concerto in B flat major (Arr. E. Grigoryan) came next. This piece was lighter and more delicate, with cascading repetitions. And how the fingers flew! The second movement was precise and filigree, lovelorn and melancholic. The final movement was vibrant and dance-like.
P.I.Tchaikovsky’s February (Arr. E. Grigoryan) followed, begun with blistering pace, and with hints of Nutcracker. In this work the guitars sounded almost piano like.
Next came Leonard Grigoryan’s powerful, pulsating This Time, with a touch of melancholia. The piece had the feel of a hypnotic movie soundtrack.
This was followed by R. Towner’s From a Dream, vivid and dramatic with hints of tango, Sarabande, slow, stately and quite formal and his Duende with a cross between electric guitar and jazz.
R. Gnattali ‘s snazzy , upbeat Chiquinha Gonzaga came next, written in Brazil in the 1950’s, with alternating quick and then slow rhythms. One could hear the Flamenco beat.
Jane Rutter joined the brothers for the last part of the concert. For Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra, the mood was slow, seductive, languid and lush, with Rutter playing a silver alto flute.
It was back to her ‘standard’ flute for Ben Jor’s Mas Que Nada. The flute fluttered and soared, whilst the guitars maintained a rumbling, insistent melody.
The Mayor of Willoughby appeared and thanked Rutter and the Grigoryans and Rutter announced next year’s very exciting season which was greeted with much enthusiasm.
The concert concluded with Rutter leaving the stage playing a delightful Christmas melody on her piccolo.
An entrancing concert. Running time 1 hour and 15 minutes without interval.
The Live at lunch concert with Jane Rutter and featuring the Grigoryan brothers took place at the Concourse Chatswoodon Wednesday 25th November.