Rochdale Music Society concert: Ugnius Pauluiokonis

Photo: Vitalija Glovackyte

Ugnius Pauliukonis

The Lithuanian pianist and musical educator, Ugnius Pauluiokonis, delighted the small but very appreciative audience for his concert in St. Michael and All Angels Parish Church in Middleton, on 5 March with a fine display of technique and artistry in music by Haydn, Chopin, Debussy and Rachmaninov.

He began with Haydn’s Variations in F minor, a unusual work which challenges the interpreter by its juxtaposition of themes in both the minor and the major key. As the variations progress the player and listener alike can, as in this sensitive performance, come to appreciate the elegant balance of fine feelings underlying both of the twin tunes proposed at the beginning and the way the composer elaborates on this in his exploration of their musical implications.

The Haydn was followed by Chopin’s Nocturne in E major, another challenging work. Its seemingly disparate melodic ideas are presented in a musical union which the performer has to justify. Ugnius responded well to the composer’s artistic vision by bring his own deep instincts into play and giving the work the unifying insights it requires to communicate successfully with an audience.

The first half of the concert ended with a powerful presentation of Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie in A flat, yet another work which puts artistic obstacles in the way of successful performance by using an underlying polonaise dance rhythm to inspire melodies and harmonies for the concert hall rather than the dance floor or salon. Its intriguing key progressions and melodic intricacies rise to majestic heights of musical inspiration and technical achievement, well exposed in this performance.

To begin the second half Ugnius played the Suite Bergamasque of Debussy. This consists of four movements quite varied in musical imagery and fascinating in displaying different aspects of the composer’s artistic development towards the end of the nineteenth century. Like participants in a masked ball, each movement both hides and reveals. So the satisfactions in performing and listening are to be felt only by those whose are open to the enjoyment of mystery. The applause said it all.

Finally, a selection of six of Rachmaninov’s Preludes from his Op. 23 and 32, provided a rich intellectual and emotional climax to a well designed evening of music making. These are all technical and interpretive showpieces for the performer to have to work at as Ugnius demonstrated he had done to the very best effect. His reward was to be assured by the audience reaction that he had successfully communicated the depth of the composer’s intense expression over a wide range, from discreet and rapt contemplation to majestic displays of extrovert delight.

The Society’s next concert will also be held in St. Michael’s Church, on Saturday 2 April, when the Sveta and Slava Duo will be playing a wide range of music for cello and piano. Details on the website: www.rochdalemusicsociety.org.

Graham Marshall