A friend invited me to a wonderful autumn piano at Fairlight Hall, in the converted stable, now a concert performance space which took place on the morning of October 29. The gardens are interspersed with pieces of art which is a feast for one’s eyes.
The piano was a Bluthner, made in Leipzig, Germany. The maker is referred to as one of the “Big Four” piano manufacturers, which also include Steinway & Sons. Julius Bluthner established his workshop in Leipzig, Saxony in 1853. The piano has a marvellous sound.
Samuel Deason who was the second prize winner of the 2016 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition performed pieces by JP Rameau, E Grieg, F Schubert and S Rachmaninoff. This was an amazing selection of piano music, sometimes passionate and rousing, his fingers flying across the keyboard, other times gentle, his hands calmly gliding over the keys.
Born in 1988 in Saskatoon, he studied at Indiana University and now lives in Baltimore where he studies with Boris Slutsky at the Peabody Institute on a full scholarship. He is a very talented and personable young man.
The Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) will be at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings, February 23- March 4 next year. There have already been auditions in the USA and they are now happening in Japan.
On the evening of October 29 I attended the operetta, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss at the New Hall, Winchelsea, presented by the Winchelsea Singers.
The conductor was Duncan Reid, the accompanist Ivora Rees and the director Charlotte Beecroft. As one can imagine it was a totally different experience to the morning but amusing and with some excellent voices (Lesley Moore, Ailsa Vinson, Garry Morriett, David Hance amongst others) There was also a lovely chorus supporting the actors.
Photos: Heidi Foster