Even in the massive space of Llewellyn Hall, I was surprised by how satisfying was the volume of a classical trio, even with that diminutive instrument, the fortepiano, at its heart. This was Musica Viva and it's not a common visit but I enjoyed this immensely, even if not particularly critically. I mostly just took it in as the pleasure it can so easily satisfy. This was Beethoven and Mozart, mostly Beethoven (4 vs 2) although the concert was entitled Mozart's clarinet. Perhaps because the concert was set when the clarinet was new and Mozart and then young Beethoven wrote for it. It started with a basset horn which is a precursor to the clarinet that we know but looks nothing like it, at least in this incarnation, bent and with an odd box before the horn. Then Beethoven variations, Mozart Kegelstatt trio, interval, Beethoven aria and more variations, Mozart piano sonata K.545 and a Beethoven piano trio. Megan recalled the K.545 as something every pianist learns and it was very recognisable even to me. I mostly just sat and enjoyed the capable playing and easy composition, but took note of Beethoven's interplay of parts and just the beauty of the solo, quiet fortepiano and the lines moving between cello and clarinet and the fingering on the cello. That's something I could understand. Nicola Boud mostly played a "historical clarinet" to Erin Helyard's (historical) fortepiano but Simon Cobcroft's cello seemed modern enough. Whatever, this was inviting music played with class and perfectly adequate for the large Llewellyn space when you adjusted to it. Lovely.
Nicola Boud (clarinet, basset horn), Erin Helyard (fortepiano) and Simon Cobcroft (cello) performed Mozart and Beethoven for Musica Viva at Llewellyn Hall.