Ivana Gavric, Ripon Cathedral

WITH her last CD having been voted Recording of the Year by the Grieg Society, pianist Ivana Gavric’s recital here for the Cathedral Concert Society, and the previous afternoon for Darlington Piano Society, was revised to include some of that music.

She opened with three of Grieg’s Slatter, Op. 72, his Norwegian Peasant Dances arranged for piano.

The opening No. 14 was folky, No. 17 a short bewitching tune and No. 2 with its frantic, impassioned ending, much more dramatic.

The main focus here though was on Grieg’s Ballade which is actually a set of variations on a Norwegian Folk Song.

As might be expected, Gavric gave a confident performance with some clear playing, bringing out the lovely contrasts between the short movements.

Her articulate playing and some helpful programme notes made it very easy to follow.

She then went straight into three of Grieg’s Lyric Pieces with a light, almost impressionistic Notturno, an attractive Peasant Song and the familiar jolly and cheerful Wedding Day at Troldhaugen.

The other major work was Schubert’s often dark Sonata in A minor, D784; its extremes of mood very carefully and thoughtfully played with the lighter almost song-like Andante a welcome lighter interlude.

Finally, a small group of Rachmaninov’s Preludes included the G minor, Op. 23, No. 5, played with some relish and a stirring Op. 23, No. 2 in B flat minor to end with.

In the next concert on Monday, March 9, cellist Ariana Kashefi and pianist Timothy End will play Beethoven, Poulenc, Brahms and Schumann. Tickets from 01765 690498.

Peter Bevan