Huntingdon Hall, Sunday 7 December 2014
One could have been forgiven for being somewhat apprehensive coming to this concert, for two reasons. First, that this third offering in the Club's 2014/15 season hardly promised to offer the sort of classical music we have come to expect from the Club, and second, that two hours of nothing but guitars might prove somewhat monotonous.
We needn't have worried. In fact, music by Vivaldi, Handel and Tchaikovsky, brilliantly transcribed for their instruments by the brothers Katona, was interspersed by pure guitar music by Rodrigo, Albéniz and others. And our interest was held throughout by the outstanding technique of the twins which showed that the guitar is as versatile as any stringed instrument can be.
The unique, almost uncanny rapport which is well-known to exist between twins showed in their music-making. Changes of tempi, rhythm and dynamics were accomplished with complete precision and unanimity. Almost all the complicated music was played from memory on two identical guitars. The skill and musicianship revealed by these talented young men fully justified the adventurous decision to include them in Worcester Concert Club's line-up for the season.
Before the concert the Katona twins gave a workshop to a group of keen guitar players of varying ages and abilities. It is worth pointing out that Worcester Concert Cub is the only local music club which offers a workshop each season.
The next concert will be on Sunday 25 January 2015 at the same venue, and will be given by the Coull String Quartet, one of this country's most distinguished groups. A treat not to be missed.
John Gibson