‘Les âges de la vie’ – Béatrice Martin (harpsichord)

The quality of these lunchtime concerts is so high that a solo harpsichord recital attracts a crowd that would look good in the vastness of the Dome. This concert had been delayed by Covid since 2020 and was the inauguration of a rather splendid double manual harpsichord supplied by Robert Jennings. What a spectacular debut! We were treated to an extraordinarily virtuosic selection of Baroque masterpieces, starting with J.S. Bach and including Handel, François Couperin, Froberger and climaxing with the enigmatic Duphly. It was in the very generous encore, a Chaconne by Duphly, that Béatrice Martin had saved the best till last. The astonishing agility of her left hand, the precision and delicacy of her ornamentation, the sheer musicality of her playing made a tremendous finale to a brilliant recital.

All Saints Church,
25 May 2022
Rating:
Andrew Connal