The Flame of Music

MALCOLM TROUP reports on new arrivals
from China and Lithuania at the
Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's
summer festival in London

The flame of music, for which the Salvation Army has always been a notable torchbearer, burnt brighter than ever in its Regent Hall premises [Oxford Street, London UK] during the last two weeks, coinciding with the start of the Paralympics. Originally planned to serve as a refuge from over-consumerism for Oxford Street shoppers (John Lewis being directly opposite), this time the Olympic Year brought lots of new faces from overseas.

As always, the festive fortnight opened (on Friday 17 August 2012) with a fanfare to two internationally known artists who for many years have been identified with the cutting-edge of chamber music: cellist Rohan de Saram, stemming from Sri Lanka, who together with the Arditti String Quartet in the 1980s and 90s introduced so many contemporary works to British audiences, with Argentinian/British pianist Alberto Portugheis. True to their flying colours, they managed to tuck in another premiere -- Naresh Sohad's Foray, in the composer's presence -- between their gripping performances of Schubert's 'Arpeggione' Sonata and Beethoven's Op 102 No 1...