St Stephens Friday Music
September 9, 2022
Gregory van der Struik – trombone
Christopher Pidcock – cello
In a city with hundreds of topline professional musicians it is surprising that only a small number continue to pursue concerts where they perform solo works and support Australian composers.
Foremost amongst such soloists are Principal Trombone of the Opera Australia Orchestra Gregory van der Struik and Sydney cello legend, Christopher Pidcock and their lunchtime recital at St Stephens elicited great applause from a most knowledgeable audience.
Gregory van der Struik performed Melbourne-based composer Andrian Pertout’s virtuosic Assente in uno stato di flusso for solo trombone as if it was a mere warm-up! Pertout’s work is a wonderful journey of exciting rhythms and varying colours and dynamics and a wonderful addition to the trombone repertoire.
Van der Struik concluded the recital with a performance of my Heron Creek where he displayed the introspective side of his musicianship. He knows when to play softly and then, when required, he opens up his glorious warm tone with the sunniest fortissimo you can imagine. He knows perfectly how to make an impact.
Christopher Pidcock is simply one of the most active cellists in Australia and a great supporter of music of our time. And he also plays Bach as if it means everything to him… it probably does. He chose to play three movements from a suite by Bach interspersed with two works from our time – J.S Bach – Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BWV 1009: I. Prélude IV. Sarabande , Salvatore Sciarrino – Ai limiti della notte (solo cello version) arr. Heitlinger/Pidcock – The Lick, and then the Bach Gigue.
It was an inspired choice of repertoire and Pidcock mesmerised the audience with his attention to colour, nuance and his sheer musical brilliance. The Sciarrino solo, which means ‘at the edge of the night’, is often at the edge of audibility as the music bends in and out of soft and loud. Exquisite music and performance.
At the end of the concert I heard comments like, ‘now that was a real recital’ and’ the music went by in a flash’. I agreed wholeheartedly.
