Wed 17 July 2019
1:00 pm
Kim Mai Hua
violin
Anson Hua
cello
Margaret Roberts
piano
Fauré, Brahms, Cassadó, Geminiani, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Elgar & Caccini
Programme:
Gabriele Fauré (1845-1924)
Après un Rêve
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Sonata in E minor op. 38
- 1st movement: Allegro non troppo
Gaspar Cassadó (1897-1966)
Requiebros
Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762)
Sonata in C minor
- 1st movement: Largo
- 2nd movement: Allegro
- 3rd movement: Siciliana
- 4th movement: Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata in F op. 24 ('Spring')
- 1st movement: Allegro
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Suite Italienne
- Introduzione: Allegro Moderato
- Gavotta con due Variazioni
- Variazione I: Allegretto
- Variazione II: Allegretto piu tosto moderato
Edward Elgar (1887-1934)
Sonata in E minor op. 82
- 1st movement: Allegro
Giulio Caccini (1551-1618)
Ave Maria
Review:
Free entry, retiring collection.
In a change from the originally advertised concert, the revised recital on Wednesday 17th July provided a rare treat for our audience. Brother and sister partnered by Margaret Roberts, a pianist tutor from the staff of University of Surrey, gave a stunning programme of cello and violin music with extracts from the classics.
Anson Hua (11) commenced the proceedings with Gabriel Faure's "Apres un Reve", and from the very first gorgeous sound from his cello, firmly established his remarkable ability. This was outstanding throughout his remaining two pieces, the wonderful Brahms E minor Sonata (first movement), and the Spanish "Requiebros" by Gaspar Cassado. To analyse his playing would take too much space, suffice it to say that what was necessary, was all there; beautifully controlled tone, fine phrasing, rhythmic vitality, intonation, expressiveness, and everything that goes towards making music at its finest.
His sister, Kim Mai Hua (14), proved to be a violinist, equally talented as her brother, and in a somewhat longer programme of Geminiani's C minor Sonata, Beethoven's "Spring" Sonata (first movement), the introduction and two variations from the "Suite Italienne" by Stravinsky plus the first movement from Elgar's E minor Sonata Op.82, it can safely be said that all the plaudits awarded to Anson can be given to her also. There is no doubt that these two very young people play with assurance and musical command well beyond their years, and in time, providing they have the tenacity to develop and build up a repertoire, could make a name for themselves as professional musicians if that was their wish.
Throughout the concert, Margaret Roberts gave admirable support from the piano, if perhaps at times too powerfully so for a perfect balance, but finally all three came together as a Trio to play a splendid performance of an arrangement by Ngarm of the "Ave Maria" by Giulio Caccini which resulted in sustained applause from the highly appreciative audience.
PB
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Biographies:
Kim Mai and Anson Hua
Kim Mai (14) and Anson (11) were born into a musical family. Naturally, the children were encouraged to learn the piano at an early age but have truly found their musical inspiration in string instruments.
Kim Mai is a music scholar at Guildford High School and attends the Royal Academy of Music (Junior Department) in London where she currently studies violin with Susan Collier and has recently been awarded a Distinction for her ARSM Diploma. She is also taking conducting and composition classes too. Besides regular solo, chamber and orchestral concerts and as a member of the RAM choir, she recently performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion under the baton of Trevor Pinnock.
Kim Mai enjoys performing at music Festivals and has secured numerous awards including the Tillford Bach Award, and the Godalming Festival prize for the most promising string performer to name a few. She also performs regularly in a variety of ensembles at Guildford High school as well as the Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In her spare time, Kim Mai enjoys painting, swimming and badminton.
Anson studies cello and piano. He passed ABRSM grade 8 cello and grade 6 piano in 2018 with Distinction. He studies cello with Alexandra Mackenzie and piano with Helen Cawthorne at the Primary Royal Academy of Music. Anson gave his first public solo performance aged 7 and has since won numerous first prizes at music festivals. The most recent being the best cello performance award and the Godalming festival string concerto cup for his rendition of the Elgar cello concerto.
He is currently a year 6 pupil at Lanesborough preparatory school where he is the first cellist in the orchestra as well as joining a variety of chamber music ensembles. He also performs regularly with the Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra and was the youngest member to join in 2017.
Anson will attend Westminster school from September 2019 as a music scholar .
In his free time, Anson enjoys reading, writing and sketching. He is also a keen tennis player and an avid Manchester City fan.
Kim Mai and Anson Hua appear by kind permission of their parents Dr Philip Hua and Mrs Rula Hua who provided the photographs and biographies for publication.
Margaret Roberts
Margaret specialised in piano accompaniment at the Royal College of Music after gaining a first class degree in music from Brasenose College, Oxford. She pursues a wide-ranging career, accompanying vocal and instrumental soloists in recitals, recordings, festivals and auditions, playing for masterclasses at conservatoires in the UK and abroad, directing church choirs and community groups, and performing chamber music notably with The Holywell Ensemble and The Lodore Ensemble with whom she has made a number of acclaimed recordings. Particularly enjoying her work with young musicians, Margaret is currently piano tutor and accompanist at the University of Surrey, as well as a visiting piano teacher at Charterhouse and ACS, Cobham Margaret is also artistic director of the hilltop concert series “Music at St Martha’s”, where she encourages the participation of outstanding young soloists in informal recital opportunities at an inspirational countryside location.