William Chong

18th May 2007

It was a night where three up and coming young musicians well and truly took centre stage. The combined forces of Raymond Chan on the piano, Ryan Cha on clarinet and a guest piece by classical guitarist Brian Lee gave the 100-strong crowd an evening of masterful music.

Current Macleans College student Raymond Chan already has a growing list of accolades to his name – NZ Chamber Music Contest finalist in 2006, APO and NZSO Fellowships and undoubtedly more to come.

The audience lapped up Chan’s solo work during the 1st half, but equally admired the virtuosity from Brian Lee, who opened the 2nd half of the programme with Prelude by M.M. Ponce and Morel’s Danza Brasilera. The latter showed Lee’s excellent grasp for the flamenco-style techniques on show.

Chan’s performance of Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique was a bold choice to start the evening. His nerves showed with passages not as con brio as it could be, as well as a couple of slipped notes – but Chan was able to regroup for the rest of the movements, eventually warming up to the occasion.

Brahms’s Intermezzo was calm and composed rendition, Chan able to coax each stately step on the piano. Berkeley’s Concert Study in E Flat showcased his nimble hands with thrillseeking passages akin to some form of manic pointillism, and Ravel’s Sonatine was well-played, evoking a very pleasing French sound.

Two short movie pieces preceded the entrance of clarinettist Ryan Cha’s set: A Mozart Reincarnated by Morricone, and Romance based on a Paganini theme by Green. Both were light and perhaps a bit too easy for Chan’s abilities, though still coming across as an acceptable Schumman-like sound.

Mark these words: clarinettist Ryan Cha, learning under 175-Easter Andrew Uren, is going places. With accolades rivalling Chan’s own, his tone and technique show a dedicated and sensitive approach to the instrument. Chan proved as adept an accompanist to Cha’s animated playing: their instruments dovetailed about each other impressively during Lilburn’s Sonatina. But audience members offered a standing ovation to the excellent finale of Weber’s Concertino. Cha’s dexterous passages were matched by Chan’s sensitive accompaniment, and both players even attempted Gerald Finzi’s infamous Fugue from Five Bagatelles – no mean feat for an encore!

All in all an excellent concert with some of East Auckland’s rising musical stars.

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I’m happy sitting here.

On Friday the Corbans judge came into NYNY, and I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to serve him.  I can’t wait to hear what the results will be like!

I ate an apple today for the first time in 2 years.  I mean like, headfirst “crunch” experience, you know.  Totally refreshing.

Oh and paperclip last night went from dinner to a discussion that repeated the same thing over and over.  I’d prefer a movie next time, or something more inclusive (imagine wine buffs reiterating to each other that reds should not be chilled.  Again and again.  It’d put you off the wine industry given enough time…)

I have this DVD of Battlestar Galactica that Kenneth passed to me.  I’m not sure what I do with it.  *scratches head*

Food smells really delicious from across the road… but I’ve had my lunch.  There are midterms to consider across most of my papers, so I’d better get back to them.

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Oh, and apparently Brian’s concert went pretty well.  There’s a review here, but it mentions little of grammatical value.  You can see my name in the background image, and I’ll be chatting with Brian about how my piece was received.

Have a good day!

 (it was a yummy apple)