St Hilda’s, Danby

THE little church of St Hilda was unable to accommodate all those who would have liked to attend this concert. It was a complete sell-out, and perfect weather in an idyllic setting made it a memorable afternoon even before the performance began.

St Hilda’s is small and almost hidden in Danby Dale, with only a low square tower bearing evidence of its location in deepest countryside.

However, all roads led to it this Sunday in August, a day of bright sunshine and a brisk little breeze.

The concert opened with Schubert’s String Trio in B flat D58. Joyful and melodic, it was beautifully performed by Thomas Carroll, cello, Simon Blendis, violin and Meghan Cassidy, viola. This is Schubert at his best, essentially optimistic, with an especially tuneful 3rd movement, a cheerful minuet and a jolly rondo allegretto to finish.

A change of mood followed with Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello. Energetic bowing at the opening allegro led into a lovely musical contest between the two instruments, with an excellent plucking, pizzicato passage to start the second movement ‘Tres Vif’. This movement has a somewhat pulsing, threatening feel to it, before merging into a contrasting, quiet finish. The fourth movement has a great cello part, and in fact both instruments have strong parts to play, with lively fingering and bowing.

High demands on musicianship were repeated in the Françaix String Trio. Meghan Cassidy and Simon Blendis were joined by Thomas Carroll for this item, which required fingering at the speed of light. Again, a work of amazing contrasts and styles beautifully performed, earning rapturous applause, enough to threaten the elderly church rafters.

The show wasn’t over, however. The ladies of the church had prepared an al fresco feast of gorgeous cakes for tea, and we were invited to help ourselves. Imagine if you can 100 or so music lovers gingerly picking their way over tussocky grass balancing tea and cakes, perching on the bases of ancient tombstones and any available ledge, and you have a scenario worthy of a Betjeman poem. It could only happen in England. Brilliant!

Irene MacDonald