Whimsical harp and flute at Classics

CANDICE BRADFIELD

THE Classics at the Castle audience was treated to something different last week in the form of Jacqueline Kerrod on the harp accompanied by Liesl Stoltz on the flute.

MUSICAL PAIR: Harpist Jacqueline Kerrod (left) and flautist Liesl Stoltz performed at the Spring Sundowner Soiree held at Richmond House last week Picture: CANDICE BRADFIELD

Kerrod is from Johannesburg but spends much time in the United States. She graduated from Yale and has performed with some famous orchestras including the New York Philharmonic.

Stoltz teaches at the South African College of Music in Cape Town and performs often. She has worked and studied overseas and has also won many international prizes.

Their first piece was Entr'acte by composer Jacques Ibert which was spirited and nymph-like, the sound of the harp adding a magical quality. According to Kerrod this song was inspired by Ibert's love for Spanish music. It is also different in that the harp is used like a giant guitar to make a harder sound.

Next was Bach's G Minor Sonata which had a certain Victorian sound to it and was hauntingly beautiful. Sonata by living composer Lowell Liebermann begins very dark and eerie, becoming lighter and faster in the second half.

The next piece of the programme was Fantasy by Saint Saens who started his work early as a child prodigy. This piece was originally composed for violin and harp. This beautiful, full-bodied song included touches of heavenly melodies emanating from the harp. Kerrod called it "a gem in harp repertoire”.

The inspiring Elegia was written for Stoltz just last year by South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr. The Suit Populaire Espagnole was the final piece on the programme, made up of six short compositions. According to Kerrod, they are all about "dramatising everyday life”.

For an encore they performed a song by an Icelandic composer.

The entire performance was well-received by the audience.