Date: Fri 13-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

NFoM-Akahoshi-Parisot-April

Full Text:

CONCERT REVIEW: Cellist Akahoshi, With A Special Guest, Provides A Superb

Experience For NFoM

By June April

The standing ovation was warranted; the performance was stellar. Cellist Ole

Akahoshi and pianist Elizabeth Sawyer Parisot were inspiring to hear and a

pleasure to watch when they performed recently in a concert sponsored by

Newtown Friends of Music.

Opening an afternoon concert at Newtown's Edmond Town Hall on November 8 with

Johann Sebastian Bach's Gamba Sonata No 3 in G minor, Mr Akahoshi's skill and

balance was immediately established. The playing was crisp and vigorous. The

second movement, "Adagio," expressed a sober grandeur that was deeply moving

to hear.

Six Rumanian Folk Dances by the Hungarian composer Bela Bartok took one's

breath away, especially the last one, entitled "Maruniel," which opened with

rapid-fire pizzicato of the thumb and index fingers of the bowing hand.

The closing piece of the first half was wonderfully evocative. Composer Manuel

de Falla musically painted the many aspects of the Spanish culture in his

Suite Populaire Espagnole. The tonal richness of the work captured the sense

of the breadth and colorful nature of the Iberian heritage, with spirited and

fiery portions contrasted with exotic harmonies of the Moorish heritage.

Whereas many only think of the Polish pianist/composer Frederic Chopin in

terms of his brilliant keyboard works, there are a few pieces he wrote for

cello and piano. The melodic and strongly patriotic nature of Chopin's

creativity is embroidered in both the Sonata for Piano and Cello in G minor,

Opus 65 and his Introduction et Polanaise Brillante in C, Op. 3.

Mr Akahoshi appears to have a particular affinity to Chopin's music. To watch

his face and body, he seemed especially absorbed and transfixed by the eastern

European composer's music.

Striking an impressive balance as the accompanist, Elizabeth Sawyer Parisot is

clearly an excellent pianist with a highly deserved reputation. She has also

toured extensively with her husband, another outstanding cellist, Aldo

Parisot.

In response to the enthusiastic ovation, the duo played a sensitive and

elegant encore: Saint-Saens' "The Swan," from The Carnival of Animals.

The Akahoshi family has a musical-string tradition. The father plays the

double bass, there is a violinist and a violist.

"When I was four, it was kind of a mutual decision that I play the cello," Mr

Akahoshi explained with a charming smile, "it was a niche that needed to be

filled."

The program played to a full house, with about two dozen children, including a

wee babe, and you would hear the proverbial pin drop. It was a superb

experience.