Toad Lane Concerts: Isabel Williamson (cello) and Jonathan Ellis (piano)

Toad Lane Concert - Jonathan Ellis (piano) and Isabel Williamson (cello)

Cello player Isabel Williamson and Jonathan Ellis on the piano made a perfect pair for great musicmaking at The Parish Church of Saint Mary in The Baum on Wednesday (22 September).

Rochdale is very fortunate in being close to one of the powerhouses of performance in Europe, the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).

Isabel Williamson graduated from the RNCM with distinction in her master’s degree. Previously, she was awarded a first-class degree from the University of Manchester and awarded the Proctor Gregg Recital Prize for her final year recital.

In addition to freelance orchestral work, she teaches with Rochdale Music Service. She has also played with her duo partner and as a member of the Ryebank Trio (with Jonathan, and violinist Duncan Reid) for five years, recently leaving it due to time and travel commitments, to pursue interests in other genres of music: her new indie-folk band “Bonfire Tide” is soon to make its own first public appearance in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Isabel’s concert partner Jonathan Ellis graduated first class from the prestigious joint music course at Manchester University and the RNCM where he was to win many prizes as an accompanist, in chamber music, and as a solo pianist. He continues to perform regularly in these fields. He is a welcome regular visitor to the Toad Lane series at St Mary’s, having played as accompanist or soloist for three of the six restart concerts so far.

At the recent concert, Lennox Berkeley’s ‘Andantino’ was a wonderful appetiser for Beethoven’s charming ‘Variations on a theme by Mozart’ (the ‘Bei Männern’ duet from “The Magic Flute”) followed by the vibrant Hungarian spirit of Kodaly’s ‘Sonatina’. This was superb playing from the duo and their musical rapport was remarkable.

However, there was even more to come. The tour de force was Brahms’s monumental ‘Cello Sonata no. 1 in E minor’. There is always a danger of piano overpowering cello, but even though the accompaniment is like the orchestral accompaniment of a concerto, Isabel’s rich and glorious solo tone ensured that she maintained her line; and Jonathan’s sensitivity, when necessary, kept the balance. The superb acoustics of St Mary’s allowed their performance to blossom magnificently. 

The restart of the series seems to be taking off as the numbers almost doubled for this concert. Nearly 50 people found a midweek haven immersed in marvellous music worthy of the Bridgewater Hall.

Rochdale’s weekly midday music – the Toad Lane Concerts happen every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available at the moment, but the venue is Covid-19 secure. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

Dr Joe Dawson