Programme
- Debussy Cello Sonata
- Brahms Sonata no.1 in E minor
Interval
- Schumann Drei Fantasiestücke op.73
- Mendelssohn Cello Sonata no.2 in D Major op.58
Sponsored by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Review
Malcolm Cotterill
Curry Rivel Music’s season opened on 23rd March with supreme instrumentalists in a programme which gave full rein to the consummate skill of each as well as showcasing the delights which Debussy, Brahms, Schumann and Mendelssohn continue to give.
The ‘cellist, Maxim Calver, sponsored by The Countess of Munster Musical Trust is a young virtuoso ‘cellist who has already established a substantial reputation. From a standing start at the age of four to being a Grand Finalist in the BBC Young Musician Competition in 2018 he has gone on to play with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Hamburg Philharmonie and other eminent ensembles too numerous to list. His companion, billed as his accompanist but no less talented and with as big a role in their programme, was Kumi Matsuo who trained in Tokyo before coming to the Royal College of Music in London where her brilliance as a pianist was quickly recognised and developed. That talent has taken her around the world.
It was a large audience which had the privilege of hearing the pair demonstrate their musicality first in
Debussy’s Sonata for ‘cello and piano – a work written in 1915 while the composer was grappling with the cancer which killed him in 2018. That brief, austere and emotional work of fragmented themes left
unfulfilled expectations.
The Brahms ‘Cello Sonata No 1 was composed over three years from 1862 and was expressed to be a
homage to J S Bach. While writing for the ‘cello Brahms made it clear that the role of the pianist should be that of a leading partner and not merely playing an accompanying part. He also claimed that it was not difficult to play but I suspect that most performers would say “Pull the other one”. Tranquil as it is melodic despite its sombre tone, it is pure delight.
Schumann’s Three Fantasy Pieces Op 73 were written over two days in February 1849. They were primarily written for clarinet and piano but Schumann made it clear that violin and ‘cello would do equally well. Of course, there is variety – why else three pieces? Gentleness followed by vivacity concluded with speed and fire, all exquisitely played to a rapt audience.
The final offering was a brilliant choice. Mendelssohn’s Second ‘Cello Sonata was first performed in
November 1843 with Mendelssohn himself playing the piano part. When he wrote it he had in mind his brother, Paul, who was a ‘cellist. He was clearly confident of his sibling’s skill and it may be that fraternal considerations account for the fact that neither instrument is dominant. Each has its place in the sun in a piece threaded through with the exuberance, brio and joy for which Mendelssohn is famed. Our artistes did him full, dazzling justice and left their listeners in high good humour and eager for more.
A short reflective piece by Schumann was our reward as an encore.
Maxim Calver
Praised for the “elegance of his technique, overall sound and natural poeticism” (Strad Magazine), Maxim Calver first gained public recognition as a BBC Young Musician 2018 Grand Finalist and Strings Category winner where he made his concerto debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This success has led him to be in high demand as a soloist across the UK and Europe and in October 2021 Maxim made his European Concerto Debut in the Grosse Saal of the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, where he performed Schumann’s Cello Concerto.
In recent seasons, Maxim has appeared as a soloist in many of Europe’s leading venues including Wigmore Hall, Tonhalle Zurich, Cadogan Hall, St. Johns Smith Square and Kulturcasino Bern amongst others. He has also appeared as concerto soloist with the Bath, Stockport, Ipswich, Maidstone and Young Musician Symphony Orchestras, the Orpheus Sinfonia and Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra as well as recital appearances at the Kings Lynn Festival, Menuhin Hall, Norwich Chapel Concert Series, 1901 Arts Club and St. James’ Guernsey.
This seasons highlights offer a wide variety of solo and chamber concerts including a debut recital at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester as part of the Manchester Middays concert series and as returning soloist with the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of the City to perform Shostakovich Cello Concerto no.1. Additionally, he was reselected as a Countess of Munster Trust Recital Scheme Artist for recital appearances across the UK.
Maxim was invited by composer Matthew Coleridge to appear on his new album ‘Requiem’ alongside the Southern Sinfonia and Choir of Royal Holloway directed by Rupert Gough which was released on Convivium Records in March 2023 and received glowing reviews including a 5-star review by BBC Music Magazine.
A passionate chamber musician, Maxim has appeared at many festivals across Europe including the Gstaad-Menuhin, Lewes, Stamford and International Pau Casals Chamber Music Festivals. Other highlights have included live radio broadcasts from Konzerthaus Berlin and Amsterdam Concertgebouw, frequent appearances alongside the LGT Young Soloists and a CD recording of Arnold Schoenberg’s Quartet no.1. Maxim has also been invited to work with conductor John Wilson in his multi award winning Sinfonia of London for projects throughout the upcoming season.
Originally from Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk, Maxim started the cello at the age of 4 with Maja Passchier before moving to the Yehudi Menuhin School to study with Thomas Carroll aged just 8 years old. He currently studies at the Royal College of Music with Professor Melissa Phelps, where he is proud to be an ABRSM Scholar for his postgraduate studies. Maxim has received guidance and inspiration from many of the worlds leading cellists including Heinrich Schiff, Frans Helmerson, Steven Doane, Colin Carr, Paul Katz and Gary Hoffman. Maxim has also partaken in master-classes at the Kronberg Academy Cello Master-course, Tibor Varga Academy and IMS Prussia Cove amongst others.
Maxim is very grateful to have received support from the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, Geoff and Val Richards, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Drake Calleja Trust and the Hattori Foundation. He is also grateful to the Young Classical Artists Trust for their generous support in their aftercare scheme for BBC Young Musician Finalists. Maxim plays an Alberto Aloyisius Blanchi cello, dated 1906.
Kumi Matsuo
Kumi Matsuo is a versatile solo pianist, chamber musician and accompanist. She has won numerous competitions including First Prize in the 6th Isidor Bajic Memorial Piano Competition in Serbia and First Prize in the 5th Louisiana International Piano Competition, USA. She is now on the staff at RCM, working as Duo Coach to the String Faculty, as well as accompanying other instruments.
Kumi studied at the Toho Gakuen College of Music, Tokyo, and then at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London studying with John Blakely and Ashley Wass and completed her studies there with Artist Diploma and Master of Music in Performance with Distinction. She has also finished the Anthony Saltmarsh Junior Fellow in Accompaniment. Her study was generously supported by Charles Napper Award, the Russell Gander Award and the Rohm Music Foundation.
During her study at RCM, Kumi won the RCM concerto competition twice and performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto for Left Hand in Cadogan Hall with RCM Sinfonietta conducted by Peter Stark and Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto with RCM Symphony Orchestra under Martin André in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, RCM. She also played Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No.1 with RCM Chamber Orchestra under Vladimir Jurowski at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. As soloist and chamber musician Kumi has played extensively in the UK, and in the USA, France, Italy, Holland, Poland, Romania, UAE, India, Korea and Japan. She made her New York debut at Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall and gave an extended concerto and recital tour in Louisiana.
