Oliver She: Piano Recital (in aid of Cockermouth Music Society)

A remarkable piano recital was given by Oliver She, a postgraduate student from Royal Northern College of Music in aid of Cockermouth Music Society. Worthy of a far larger audience, Oliver displayed amazing technical assurance, virtuosity and musicianship in abundance in a performance in which he was always in total and confident command of the music and of which any professional solo pianist could have been proud.

Beginning with a performance of Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata, Oliver produced dynamic contrasts at will and the romantic cantabile of much of this music was beautifully realised. Following a serene slow movement the final movement grew into a virtuosic masterpiece which was most enjoyable. Liszt’s Rhapsodie Espagnole was exciting and rhythmic, with all the Spanish character well to the fore. Oliver’s choice of a contemporary Sonata by Carl Vine proved to be a wonderful contrast, which the player and the audience thoroughly enjoyed. Rachmaninov’s B flat minor Sonata was managed with great confidence, all virtuosic passages being performed with an ease which left the audience marvelling at the way the music came through such extravagances of notes. Hopefully Cockermouth audiences will be able to enjoy such wonderful playing again.