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| Simone Tavoni at the Steinway |
The piano festival has started, and five recitals in, the place is buzzing with excitement. The standard is once again very high so far, and the audiences are enthusiastic and appreciative. T-shirts are selling well, we're glad to report, and when the hat comes round, it seems to be well filled. Since we are modest sponsors of the event, we were invited to a splendid paëlla lunch yesterday with fellow sponsors and some of the musicians. We took some amuse-bouche, which seem to have gone down well: well, they went, at least. We hosted one of the pianists overnight. Regulars will recall my enthusing about one Yshani Perinpanayagam this time last year (and if not, why not?). She it was who was our overnight guest, and what a delightful young woman she is. Excellent company, and the perfect house guest. She accompanied Johnny Herford in a recital in the church today, and we had the added pleasure of his company as well last night for a simple supper (which, I'm glad to report, doesn't seem to have poisoned either of them). Well, their performances today were of the highest quality imaginable, anywhere. The fact that they pulled it off so well in the difficult acoustic of our village church speaks volumes for their professionalism. Their programme: Schubert, Richard Strauss, Wolf, Butterworth and Britten was long and challenging, but they both shone, and seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the audience did. Johnny's (baritone) voice is superb. He has an impressive range, and sings with natural ease in all registers and power levels. This performance alone was worth the journey. And when Johnny gets his knighthood, we'll be able to say he came to supper with us in Lagrasse!
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