Kraggerud and Hadland

dublin | arts and media | news report

Sunday April 23, 2006 13:02

by Sean Crudden

sean.crudden at iol dot ie

Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth.

042 9371310

Long-haired Young Norwegians

Yesterday evenings recital was an effort by the Association of Music Lovers to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Norwegian composer Christian Sinding.

The Peppercanister Church with the critic, Sean Crudden, in the foreground.

The program notes for Saturday evening’s concert in The Peppercanister Church begin,

"This evening’s recital is presented with generous support from The Arts Council under its Small Festivals and Events Scheme. We are also indebted to JENSEN BEDS (Norway) and to THE BEDROOM STUDIO in Dalkey. The Royal Norwegian Embassy has also been helpful."

The concert was promoted by the Association of Music Lovers.

The performers were Henning Kraggerud (violin) and Christian Ihle Hadland (piano).

The program was:-

Mozart (1756 - 1791). Violin sonata in B flat K.454
Prokofiev (1891 - 1953)
INTERVAL
Christian Sinding (1856 - 1941) A selection of shorter pieces

Tiredness on my part (golf earlier in the day and the car-drive from here to Dublin) caused this recital for me to sag in the middle. The latter part of the Mozart was lit up by the piano playing of Hadland. This stout young player has a presence which appeals to me and his playing has that eloquent touch of musical madness which is part and parcel of a great musician in my estimation. The sound was not large where I was sitting in the church but the tone was sweet and rounded and the general swing of the music was very engaging.

Sinding is a composer who has a characteristic style - as far as I can see from this brief hearing. The modus operandi is to ask a question and search for a note or answer - a sort of long winded cadenza effort. There is a good deal of expression along the way and the note or answer, when found, is not always the one you expect. Kraggerund spun out the music with a good deal of intensity and conviction and my impression was that I knew after the recital (from his playing and from the biographical anecdotes he gave between some of the Sinding pieces) something that I did not know before it.

I think that Kraggerund’s objective was an educational one and I think it succeeded. A case, perhaps, of a young performer educating an old audience. There were one or two younger people in the audience as well!

The final piece in the recital - before the encore - was well chosen, and the final notes of this piece were exquisitely rendered. Pardon me for being unable to give the reference for the piece. The program for the second part of the recital was given viva voce and I did not bother to make any notes.

For those who want to get some idea of the sound of Kraggerund’s playing he has a cd on the Naxos label (recorded in 2003) of Sibelius (Violin Concerto) and Sinding (Violin Concerto No 1) with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. I got a free copy of the cd yesterday evening from John A Ruddock because I bought two tickets for the concert. I put it on the cd player last night before I went to bed and I listened inattentively to it again before I went to Mass this morning and I have no hesitation in giving it every recommendation.

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Comments (2 of 2)

Corrections

Sun Apr 23, 2006 13:18

Apologies for misspelling Kraggerud's name in the last paragraph above. The piece in the program by Prokofiev was, "Five Melodies Opus 35b."

Uplifting Concert. Marvellous!

by Sean Crudden - impero

Fri Nov 06, 2015 14:07

impero at outlook dot ie

Lower Jenkinstown, Co. Louth, A91 A092.

0879739945

Last night's concert in The National Concert Hall was part of the International Concert Series 2015/2016 presented by the concert hall. The series is sponsored by Dublin Port and the Irish Times lends support as "print media partner." Sponsors often appear to us to be silly people who part easily with their money. But in reality there is more than money involved. Sponsors can put starch in many a community effort with their support as well as their money and sponsorship says something about the sponsors themselves as well as about the ventures they subsidise.

Swedish Chamber Orchestra

Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard

Piano: Christian Ihle Hadland

Albert Schnelzer, A Freak in Burbank (2007). Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K. 537 "Coronation." Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73. 2 encores.

It was marvellous to see Christian again this time on a larger stage in prestigious context. He has lost nothing of his warm presence which comes across abundantly on the concert platform. Like many a stout individual his full figure conceals a strong underlying athleticism. He coped very easily with the music and projected it in a very congenial way. I think he was the cornerstone of this concert and helped to create the happy and friendly mood which I thought was in clear evidence throughout among the audience conductor and players.

Dausgaard on the other hand is a slightly spidery figure and he reminds me of a progressive parish priest who used to minister near me in Co. Louth. His orchestra is well-knit, well-drilled, willing. Good attack. Good timing which was especially important in the first item on the program. Balance. Clarity and elucidation of the myriad musical ideas in evidence in this concert. No priggishness; a businesslike approach. There is no doubt that Dausgaard is a dramatic figure and he has a particularly well-shapen pair of hands. But it is all in the interest of the music. Not mere flamboyance.

When people perform in church or in the concert hall not many people advert to the matter of the program. The importance of the program as such cannot be overestimated. Everything synced tonight. Lovely program.

Seán Crudden

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Kraggerud and Hadland

Comments (2 of 2)