Louis-Victor Bak at St Mary the Virgin, Wingham, East Kent
A shimmering kaleidoscope of sound filled the ancient church in Wingham East Kent where Louis-Victor Bak performed a sophisticated selection of French music from the mid 19th to 21st Centuries. He started with Debussy: Images Book 1 and Book 2 – the musical equivalent of an expressionist painting. The fluidity of his playing and delicate arpeggios were extraordinary as the image of rippling water was impossible not to imagine. Hearing the last part of this work, Poissons d’or (Goldfish) I felt was the musical equivalent of Matisse and his Goldfish series.
The second piece by Cecile Chaminade – Piano Sonata in C minor presented a rarely heard dramatic and romantic work played with emotional depth. Bak played this with expression and tenderness, despite the technical challenge, as was the next piece by Maurice Ravel – Vaises noble et sentimentales. This elegant and charming work was played with both wit and sentimentality – the pieces are based on Viennese waltzes.
The final piano sonata by Henri Dutilleux brought a real energy to the programme and combined robust mid 20th Century harmonies with delicate songlike melodies. Bak played the sharp rhythms with flawless precision throughout.
The audience was delighted when Bak kindly gave us an encore of a Schumann Sonata which was a sumptuous end to a sophisticated programme. The delicacy of his playing was spellbinding, that and a blend of perfect precision coupled with lightness , which made this performance a memorable one. The audience at the Wingham International Concert Series felt lucky to have been there.
By Laura Plumptre
