Our first visit of 2023 to London’s Cadogan Hall will be long remembered by the 36 of us who were privileged to be there. Our concert guru Roy Edwards understands well what Moleside members enjoy thanks to his many years guiding our musical appreciation. Tonight’s recommendation showed his expert touch is as good as ever.
Cadogan Hall could not really be more conveniently situated for us. A short walk round the corner from the Sloane Square restaurant where we had all enjoyed a pre- concert meal together, soon had us mingling with what became a full house of music lovers gathering for a much anticipated, special occasion.
Making his debut conducting the Cadogan’s resident Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as part of an international year of firsts for him, was 27 year old Adam Hickox. Already renowned across Europe and recently acclaimed over the Atlantic, audiences and respected critics alike admire his fluid and sensitive interpretations.
Mendelssohn’ s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened the programme and the evening closed with Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Both pieces familiar to most of us but, with the RPO under his baton they were delivered feeling fresh and entirely inspirational.
But it was the performance of Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto that confirmed we were in the company of musical greatness.
We already knew that the soloist Shunta Morimoto, not yet 19 years old, had won last year’s Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition. His performance for us, at this his London debut, was simply sensational. Enthusiastic shouts of delight and considerable, if unseemly, applause at the end of the first movement reflected the sense of occasion we were all experiencing.
This extremely gifted young man humbly acknowledged the spontaneous response with a smile and nod of his head before his playing of the second and third movements brought many in the audience to their feet. Such was the reaction to his playing that we were treated to an unexpected but delightful solo encore.
Thanks to Roy for his recommendation of another memorable concert, to John for coordinating the arrangements on the night and to Paul who puts the practical plans together for these evenings but who sadly didn’t make it on the night thanks to a bad cold.
All who enjoyed the evening hope very much that we’ll all be together again for the next Moleside visit to Cadogan Hall on Wednesday 14 June.
For reports on other recent Moleside Outings Click on TAGS below.