ANDREA HEWITT AT THE WIGMORE HALL

ANDREA HEWITT AT THE WIGMORE HALL

The internationally famous Canadian pianist Andrea Hewitt performed works by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), Gabriel Faure (1845-1924), Paul Dukas (1865-1935) and Albert Roussel (1869-1937) at the Wigmore Hall on Friday, 25th November, 2011. The Debussy works, including Suite Bergamasque (c.1890) and L'Isle Joyeuse (1904) all typify the impressionist style of music where there is no dominant key and harmony is the most important element.

Hewitt's performance was perfect in terms of tempo and was never circumscribed by critical or audience expectations. The works were played quite slowly so that the music should not become muddied and confused. Her interpretations of these works was warm, humane and forgiving, never machine-like or cold. She allowed few improvisations, however, which might have been appropriate in Golliwog's Cake Walk which needed a bit of jazzing up. Hewitt's attitude to the audience and the music was never calculating or cold but spontaneous and deeply felt.

 Paul Murphy, Wigmore Hall, November 2011

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