Schubert: Daniel Tong (piano), St John’s, Smith Square, London, 9.12.2010 (BBr)

Schubert: Moments Musicaux, D780 (1823/1828) (Nos. 1, 4 and 6) Piano Sonata in A, D959 (1828)

This lunchtime, St John’s was an oasis of calm, set in the middle of the student protest at the rise in tuition fees which the House of Commons was due to vote on, just round the corner, later in the day. But Schubert wove his magical spell and all was forgotten as Tong delivered a spell binding account of the penultimate Sonata of the Austrian master. After a brief, but forceful, call to arms, Tong settled into the first movement, bringing out the inherent melancholy of the music, with lyricism to the fore, and a good sense of the progress of the music. His vision was clear and his purpose well delineated. What impressed was that the climax was a logical part of the whole, not a peak to be reached and overdone. The slow movement was in the same mode, melancholic and withdrawn, beautifully shaded and understated. This was a fine interpretation. The scherzo brought some light relief, and some very light playing to match it. Tong seemed able to make the piano speak whilst hardly touching the keys. The finale starts with a theme which is reminiscent of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and as Tong touched the keyboard to start, the sun came out and lit up the room. But this isn’t a big joyous finale, for there are problems and at the end Schubert breaks his theme into segments and destroys any hopes of a happy ending. Tong withheld any chance of a joyous conclusion as he defiantly hammered out the final chords. This was a fine performance, distressing in its agonised loneliness. Splendid.

The three pieces from the Moments Musicaux, D780 brought a mood of expectation to the hall, these small pieces proving to be the perfect aperitif to the main course. Without them the emotion of the Sonata would have been unbearable.

Bob Briggs