Once in awhile, everything comes together in a moment of such overwhelming brilliance that you would like to preserve the moment forever in your memory. We hear a lot of recitals on the Monterey Peninsula. But, not since Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax knocked us dead with the two Brahms Cello Sonatas, or Jorge Bolet made everyone think they were having a heart attack as he piled intensity on intensity in his performance of the Wagner/Liszt Tannhaüser Overture, have we heard such a satisfying performance as Robin Carlson's in the C. P. E. Bach Flute Concerto in D Minor.
The occasion was the Friday afternoon Carmel Bach Festival recital at All Saints Church in Carmel. Once we got past the cutesy title, "What's So Great About Freddie?" we found it to be an interesting afternoon recital with host Jesse Read acting as our musical guide. The coy title referred, of course, to the extraordinary influence of Frederick the Great on 18th century music as he gathered a dazzling array of musicians and composers to his imperial court. Not the least of these illustrious musicians was C.P.E. Bach, whose reputation in his own time eclipsed that of his father, but subsequently lapsed into semi obscurity. (The wags always love to say that there is one even more obscure son than C.P.E. Bach, and that is C.P.A. Bach, his son the accountant).
Right from the first notes of the Concerto in D Minor we knew that we were in for an intense experience. As the music takes us in unexpected directions, its twists and turns seemed always in the service of the loftiest musical ideals. The musicians in the ensemble accompanying Ms. Carlson are all professionals, but it didn't seem as though they were just playing another gig. They truly put their hearts into the musical fabric and even though they were only a handful of musicians, we felt as though we were hearing a full orchestra.
But, it was Robin Carlson who commanded our attention. She plays so magnificently that she made our spirits soar with her superb mastery of her instrument. Technically, she has it all - musicianship of the highest order, impeccable technique, fine intonation and fantastic breath control. And her mastery is so complete that you forget the instrument and are carried away with the music, which is as it should be.
In the
Un poco andante movement Ms. Carlson showed us how eloquently and elegantly she can shape a phrase and embellish a melodic line. In the
Sturm und Drang final movement she once again treated us to dazzling feats of virtuosity, all tossed off with effortless grace.
The other high point of the afternoon was several selections from J.S. Bach's "The Musical Offering" featuring violinists Catherine Emes and Lenore Anop, violist Nancy Lochner, cellist Jennifer Morsches, bassoonist Jesse Read, and oboists Roger Cole and Ellen Sherman. The excellent ensemble playing beautifully revealed the fascinating complexity of these richly crafted works.
Earlier on the program we heard two works by Johann Janitsch and Christoph Schaffrath. These were pleasant works entirely suitable as background music at a formal dinner, perhaps so dinner guests could engage in indiscreet conversations without being overheard. However, C.P.E. Bach as heard on this occasion was a different matter. If I may quote the ever-charming Mr. Read, "C.P.E. Bach grabs you by the throat, slams you up against the wall and relieves you of your wallet."
This recital will be repeated on July 31 and August 7. It will also be broadcast on KUSP-FM in July 1999.
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