Anne Sophie Mutter at The National Concert Hall

national | arts and media | news report Tuesday September 20, 2005 16:28 by Sean Crudden - impero sean.crudden at iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. 087 9739945

Gripping Recital of Five Mozart Sonatas + Encore

Anne Sophie Mutter and Lambert Orkis enthralled a packed National Concert Hall on Saturday night 17 September 2005.

"A cat can look at a king," my mother used to say. On Saturday night last (17/09/05) this cat looked at a queen. Unworthy as I am and ill-equipped I am venturing a few comments on Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin) and Lambert Orkis (piano) who gave a recital consisting of five Mozart sonatas and a single encore at the weekend in The National Concert Hall.

Anne-Sophie was dressed in pearl white with Grecian folds and matching white, high-heeled shoes. A single narrow black band held her honeycoloured hair which was basically straight and shoulder length. Her movements were slow, smooth, her disposition was grave and she kept a reserve and distance from her audience.

One often sits at a recital and asks oneself "What is wrong here?" On Saturday night everything was right. Mozart lived as a third person on the stage. Anne-Sophie adopted a fast speed and a lively interpretation of the music but nothing was rushed. Her ability to toss a musical question into the air and return a little later to answer it coming down showed wonderful understanding and timing. The sound of the music complemented the rhythm. No heavy accents, sound full of composure, and pitch always appealing and interesting.

The real character of the performance was that her physical presence and body language complemented the music in a seamless and very pleasing way. The miracle of the performance was that it gave ample and full expression to the musicality, intelligence and wit of Mozart whose music obviously lives in the heart of Anne-Marie and her accompanist.

The management of The National Concert Hall are to be complimented on arranging this marvellous event and although I paid top dollar (€75) for one of the most expensive seats in the house I would willingly pay twice as much to witness the same performance again.

Lambert Orkis was an elfin, old, experienced, nimble, serious, competent, supportive, good-humoured, subservient accompanist but no-one was in any doubt that he could be assertive if he wanted to.