Violin and cello blend with matrimonial perfection for Klouda's Kendal Midday performance (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Violin and cello blend with matrimonial perfection for Klouda's Kendal Midday performance

12:40pm Sunday 18th December 2011 in Gig and concert reviews By Brian Paynes

Kendal Midday Concert Club.

Kendal Town Hall Making a welcome return to the Kendal Midday Concert Club (albeit in other guises) the husband and wife team of Ashok and Natalie Klouda brought an unusual programme of String Duos by Mozart, Kodály and Handel arr. Halvorsen.

Throughout, whilst there needed to be more attention given to accuracy of intonation and articulation and a consistency of tone quality in the top line, their levels of ensemble work were absolutely splendid; Natalie’s violin and Ashok’s cello blended with matrimonial perfection in phrasing subtlety, imitation of each other’s lines, dynamic detail and general musical interplay. Mozart’s K423 was played with love and stylistic conviction.

Kodály’s totally contrasting (and perhaps over-long) Op 7 suited the Kloudas well. Rising to the combined challenges of rhythmic complexity, the matching of musical motives/ideas, sudden dynamic contrasts, soaring melodic lines et al, they produced a stimulating performance.

Imbalance – an unfortunate but familiar feature of some town hall recitals – raised its head during the Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia. Greater projection of the violinist’s line was needed to compete with that of the Stradivarius cello. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable experience.