Sonata for violin and piano Op. 42Prokofiev Romances Op. 127 - Shostakovich

In the second of two concerts in the Lane Gallery's Russian Season Michael d'Arcy (violin) and Dearbhla Collins (piano) gave a warm performance on Prokofiev's Sonata Op. 42, emphasising the melodies and rhythms rather at the expense of the music. They had the panache of a military band, but one was left wondering whether there was not something more profound hidden behind the extravert excitement. If one accepted this particular approach one was easily swept along by the colourful swirl of the fast movements, but the slow movement seemed ill at ease.

Sunday's noon concert became more impressive when Judith Mok joined the Irish Piano Trio to sing Shostakovich's Romances. Happily, she sang them in the original Russian; sung in English, Blok's poems lack a dimension. The translations supplied as a guide were curious, departing whimsically from the sense and distorting the meaning. But the singer's insight transcended any misapprehensions that might have been nurtured by them. The seven songs of the cycle explore different combinations of voice and instruments; only in the last song do all three instruments accompany the singer. The accompaniments were forceful, but made little attempt to adapt to the voice: however, Judith Mok succeeded in making the recital one of the most memorable held in the Lane Gallery.