A RECENT piano recital given in St Thomas's Church, Milnthorpe, by the director of Arnside Choral Society Glyn Hopkins, attracted a goodly-sized and appreciative audience. The recital was given to raise funds for the Arnside and Milnthorpe Music Festival to be held in May and, if that festival is as successful as this recital, it will, indeed, be a worth-while venture.

Glyn Hopkins, of course, is well-known in the area for his untiring musical efforts and achievements as organist at St Thomas's Church. Indeed, he has given many recitals himself and promoted a wide variety of others over a considerable period of years. For this one, the latest of a long line, he chose a demanding programme of works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Ravel. All were large in scale, technically difficult and (it is most important to remember) emotionally draining. In addition, most pieces were known, to one extent or another, by many of the audience, a fact that puts extra pressure on the recitalist! The pressure hardly showed, however, and we were treated to a feast of music-making the like of which is heard only occasionally in this particular church. While spanning three centuries of music, Glyn was not always as accurate as he would have wished, but he captured the essence of each of the contrasting pieces effectively and attractively. He can be well satisfied with his afternoon's work.

BVP

February 13, 2003 10:30