Toad Lane Concerts: Cillian Hennessy cello and Yiting Zhang piano

Yiting Zhang and Cillian Hennessy

Two supremely talented performers from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) visited Toad Lane Concerts at St Mary in the Baum on Wednesday 6 November to give a sensational recital.

Prize-winning, Irish-born cellist Cillian Hennessy is based in Manchester and Northern Ireland and in his fourth year at the RNCM. He currently plays a Marc Lamberti cello on loan from the Musical Instrument Fund of Ireland. His orchestral experience includes the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, the Ulster Youth Orchestra (principal cello) and the orchestra for Northern Ireland Opera. He has also gained experience as a soloist and chamber musician.

Fellow fourth year student, Chinese pianist Yiting Zhang started to play the piano at the age of four and soon took part in competitions in China, including coming second in the Hannover Gieseking International Piano Elite Competition. Last year she was highly commended for playing Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 5 in the RNCM competition.

Cillian opened with the JS Bach masterwork, Suite No. 1 in G for unaccompanied cello. The opening is well known, so it was great to hear the rest of the Baroque suite with its varied dance forms. Cillian’s masterful tone in the marvellous acoustic was rich and resonant.

He was joined by Yiting for the classical Seven Variations on a theme from Mozart's Magic Flute by Beethoven. Their duo work was superb with virtuoso performances from both players and excellent rapport between them.

Back to unaccompanied cello, Cillian moved into the Romantic period with admirable use of sustained double stopping and spread chords in the plaintive Caprice No. 2 "Andante Religioso" by Piatti. In contrast the twentieth century opening movement of the Spanish Suite by Cassado explored passionate and dramatic bowing, wide ranging dynamics and harmonics. A masterclass in cello technique.

The moving finale, with sensitive backing from Yiting, consisted of the Catalan carol, Song of the Birds, the signature piece of the legendary Pablo Casals. The expressive playing of such simple lines carried immense emotional power. The audience was transfixed.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson