Sam Haywood

Kendal Town Hall

Kendal Midday Concert Club’s 70th anniversary season continued with a particularly appropriate Happy Anniversary Programme given by Cumbrian pianist Sam Haywood, a husband of one week experiencing for the first time the novel sensation of wearing a wedding ring during a recital! In what was “probably the most eclectic programme I have ever played,” he performed a delightful array of pieces that mostly had ‘anniversary’ connections. He is a pianist whose technique is characterised by a subtle sensitivity of touch and remarkable awareness of fine detail.

The names of Dowland, Alken, Britten, Wagner, Oliver Davis and De Falla appear infrequently in piano recitals. Here, then, was an attractive concept and Haywood’s performances of compositions by these composers illuminated his mindfulness of style, command of ‘cantabile’, and chord-voicing. Works by Chopin and Poulenc, though, form part of the central core of recitals and during their performances there was limpid passage work of great delicacy, bravura moments of power and brilliance and an enlightening insight into their textural contrasts.

Here was a programme possessing something akin to those of the salon concerts of yesteryear; it gave his audience immense pleasure.

Brian Paynes