Keyboard Charitable Trust – 30th Anniversary Celebration
‘If music be the food of love………play on ‘ as Dr Moritz von Bredow reminded us in his brief words of thanks to Noretta and John Leech. For it is their great love not only for each other but of music that with vision and determination they have shared with innumerable young artists. Sharing with them a sense of duty, humility and integrity that gives weight and meaning to their artistry. A maturity that is born ‘on wings of song ‘ as Maestro Pappano so eloquently pointed out with ‘Bach before the mast’

John Leech & Chloe Mun
But it was the reverential minute of silence at 7 o’clock broken only by the magic strains of the Aria from the ‘Goldberg Variations’ that spoke louder than any words. Sir Antonio Pappano playing with exquisite luminous sound, the repeats allowed to whisper as he just seemed to dust the keys allowing the genius of Bach to cast a spell on this distinguished gathering. As Maestro Pappano was to say in his short speech after listening to six of the finest young musicians from the Keyboard Trust: the variety of sounds that can be produced from this black box of hammers and strings is remarkable. Technical proficiency and mastery aside it is the difference of sound and character that each one brought to the same instrument that is remarkable.

Leslie Howard