Perfectly at one in matching tone and response, this phenomenal duo who are both formidable solo personalities in their own right also took us through a range of colours and approaches in a cornucopia of masterpieces for both four hands at one piano and two instruments placed side by side, from Bach to Lutoslawski, Debussy to Tailleferre.The first half was typical of their thoughtfulness. The grounding was in Bach, Bartlett providing the spiritual pulse at the start of the Sonatina from the cantata "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit" in Kurtág's transcription (you always know a true Bach Read more ...

Never mind the singing, Roderick Williams could have been a great TV presenter or even stand-up, on the evidence of his spoken introduction at the Wigmore Hall last night. It was the best pre-concert speech I’ve heard for a long time – relaxed, witty, authoritative and engaging – and this is not damning with faint praise, as the recital that followed was completely delightful. The fact it also featured Williams as composer was further evidence that nature does not hand out talent equitably. The programme, of Williams’s devising, saw him revisit and update an idea from about 10 years ago Read more ...