Marvellous cello and guitar at Music Society concert

At lunchtime on Saturday 14th January, 72 people gathered for a recital given by Robert Irvine and Allan Neave on cello and guitar respectively, and were thrilled. This was one of the most enchanting performances the Music Society has ever put on, with a mingling of modern and mediaeval sound that was both pure and exciting.

Robert Irvine, born in Glasgow, won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music when only 16, and his shining talent has matured into a mastery that makes any audience feel in the presence of something extraordinarily special. With the equally brilliant Allan Neave, who teaches at the RSAMD and is invited regularly to all the leading music colleges of Europe, he had the listeners enraptured from the first note on his fine Venetian cello, made in 1725. The singing tone of the instrument blended perfectly with the often lute-like guitar, and the two players ranged easily from Vivaldi to contemporary composers.

The programme included well-loved pieces such as Fauré’s Après Un Rêve and The Swan by Saint-Saëns, but the Seven Short Pieces by Carlo Domeniconi were a delight in their contrasting speeds and rhythms, from a cat-and-mouse chase to a mysterious reflection then a languorous melody that used sliding notes on the cello to intriguing effect. Both players contributed notable solos, Allan performing a modern piece based on an octave motif that demanded re-tuning of the guitar and Robert giving a clear, highly intelligent rendering of Bach’s Suite No 1.

The relaxation and good humour of the players, combined with technical and artistic mastery, made this an outstanding experience for all those privileged to be present