The cello affair

The cello affair continued with Messrs. Queryas and Tharaud at the Wigmore Hall last week, a concert which involved a cello from Turin that was older than any of the music being performed. A cello which was described in the (badly dated) program as being racé, loosely a thoroughbred, as in horse. See reference 1.

Two striking girls on the tube to Green Park, both wearing substantial red coats, which seem to be the fashion this year. The first was a European girl, with a dark red coat, was thin and about six feet tall. The second was a Chinese girl with a bright red coat, open over pale blouse and white trousers. But what was most striking was her face makeup. With most of the face having been lightened, matching bright red lips and a hint of darker blusher about the cheekbones. One wondered how long it had taken to put together - but the result was probably worth it!

Out to find no light show, beyond an illuminated fish cycling through Berkeley Square, advertising the nearby sexy fish restaurant. A place which I do not expect to be gracing; not being young enough, not sexy enough and not rich enough. See reference 4 for details of their private dining experience. Better than the nearby Dorchester?

There was at least one cello in the cloakroom, and I dare say there were more cellists in the auditorium, certainly if the learned conversation which went on behind me was anything to go by.

On the other hand the barista did not know that a ham sandwich (not bad at the Wigmore) counted as a bagel as far as the till was concerned. An error which cost her at least 30 seconds.

Flowers two sorts of dark red, green backing with just a touch of white.

The Bach (BMV 1028), the Schostakovich (Op.40) and the Brahms (Op.38) were all new to me and all very good, although I found the piano a little loud in the first half of the Bach, not leaving enough room for the cello. All very different, but all very much what it said on the tin, that is to say a recognisable part of the oeuvre of the composer concerned. Plenty of echoes. Not so sure about the Berg (Op.5, arranged for cello and piano), but then it was not very long. Sufficiently obscure that an iPod or some such had to be deployed for the cello part - with old-speak paper making do for the rest of the time.

An arrangement of Hungarian Dances 11 and 5 by way of an encore. The second preceded by the first alcoholic toast (champagne) that I have seen on the stage of the Wigmore Hall - a toast to their recently released CD, fortuitously on sale and signable after the concert. All very French and the audience - including me - loved it.

Exit to the balloon noticed at reference 3.

PS: listening to YouTube today, I think I prefer the cello version of No.11 to the more usual two pianist one piano version.

Reference 1: https://tarisio.com/. Perhaps these people, having featured in the program noticed at reference 2, have got themselves a regular slot in the new look programmes.

Reference 2: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/sonatas_30.html.

Reference 3: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/balloon.html.

Reference 4: https://www.sexyfish.com/.

Reference 5: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/the-cello.html. Probably the last time I heard Queryas.