Solo performances form focus of talk in Bognor Regis

Enid Wenban is a dedicated friend of the club who for many years served as its admin secretary. Her theme was 'Going Solo' which enabled her to find works written for various instruments demanding much technical expertise from their players. In the course of introducing the music, Enid described the history of each instrument's evolution from earliest times to today's sophisticated version. Enid began with a great favourite '“ the late Dennis Brain playing Mozart's Horn Concerto no 3, K447, a famous recording dating from 1953 but now available as one of EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series. Enid recounted some amusing anecdotes about Dennis '“ including the fact that, as he knew the works by heart, his music stand held a copy of Autocar instead of Mozart's score. Next came the bassoon, as Enid said, the clown of the orchestra. Enid played Johann Nepomuk Hummel's genial Bassoon Concert in F with George Zuckerman accompanied by the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, and followed that with a work by Schubert, no 3, Theme and Variations of Impromptu D935, played on a square piano made by the famous fortepiano innovator of the 18th century, Muzio Clementi. With her next choice, Enid recalled the visit made to the club 20 years ago by Evelyn Rothwell, the widow of Sir John Barbirolli, whose death at the age of 97 was announced last January. Enid recommended Evelyn's memoir, published in 2002, called Living with Glorious John. Evelyn was an accomplished oboe player, and Enid played her arrangement and fine performance of Marcello's Oboe Concert in C min with the Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir John. The human voice's place as the oldest musical instrument of all is only challenged by birds, Enid said, and she chose Janet Baker's recording of two items from the charming song-cycle Les Nuits d'ete by Hector Berlioz. An instrument traditionally played by females followed '“ the harp. Enid chose Mozart's lilting Flute and Harp Concerto in C, K299, played unusually by two men '“ Ossian Ellis, Harp and William Bennet, flute. From the great family of strings, Enid chose the cello, with Julian Lloyd Webber playing the Cantilena from Organ Sonata no11 of Joseph Rheinberger and Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch. To find a grand flourish for her final choice, Enid turned to the trumpet, and played the exhilarating account of Josef Haydn's Trumpet Concert by Haken Hardenberger with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields under Sir Neville Marriner. Jacquey Billington thanked Enid for reminding her audience of the many great artistes we've been privileged to hear in our lifetime playing such beautiful music.