This week’s lunchtime recital in All Saints was a masterclass in instinctive and musical piano playing from Form 6 musical scholar, Obi. His love of the chosen repertoire by Schubert and Mozart was clearly evident from the opening notes of the famous Impromptu in A flat. The beauty of his touch and exquisite voicing of the chords allowed the piano to sing effortlessly around the church, entrancing the listeners. The occasional sudden contrasts in the music were also managed expertly, allowing moments of grandeur to melt back into the work’s more normal lyrical style. In the central Trio section, Obi demonstrated his understanding of the musical architecture of the phrases to shape his interpretation.
The transition back in time to the music of Mozart for his second work – the first movement of the Sonata in A major, K 331 – seemed very natural, with Obi communicating the simple charm of the work’s opening theme. In the variations that followed, Obi clearly understood the contrasting characters adopted in turn by the composer, illuminating them successfully for his audience in his well-shaped playing. Along the way, the clarity of his articulation, neatness of his ornamentation and lyrical shaping of Mozart’s timeless melodies all impressed.
Congratulations to Obi on bringing this wonderful music to life for an appreciative audience in All Saints Church.
