Pedro Rodrigues (guitar) and Liesl Stoltz (flute)
Musicality undisputed, listening pleasure undiluted.
Musicality undisputed, listening pleasure undiluted.
Undisputed musicality wrapped the substantial audience on Sunday evening in a comforting blanket of undiluted listening pleasure that kept the cold of winter out. Flute playing of the stature rendered by the Capetonian Liesl Stoltz has not been heard here for a long time. And do not dismiss the Odeon Symphony. Their well-balanced playing is astonishing.
Stoltz and Rodrigues as an international duo have already won international prizes, and in Ferdinande Carulli’s G major Concerto for flute and guitar they showed us why.Stoltz’s share in the work, which exploits a wide spectrum of technical possibilities on both instruments, was particularly enchanting.
Her flute sound is scintillating, the runs sparkle, phrasing is musically satisfying and her articulation effortlessly spontaneous. Breath control is apparently second nature, and that from such a slight physique.Her technical brilliance remains unobtrusive, so that the flow of the music predominates. And that is after all what is important – to let the music sing.Rodrigues’ playing was not always as excellent as Stoltz’s, but it is obvious that their regular performances as a duo has resulted in perfectly smooth interaction.
This duo will always be welcome in Bloemfontein Piazzolla’s Tango encore left me longing for more.
Elretha Britz