The comparativist

Four of what surely must be some of Chetham’s finest young pianists played at Christ Church earlier today, in a concert that served as a delightful showcase of the four great musical eras spanning the last 250 years of Western classical canon. From the Baroque period we heard Bach and Scarlatti. Bach’s «Partita N. º2 in C minor» (BWV 826) was the highlight of this section, delivered by Shirley with confident clarity in connecting the piece’s intricate, interwoven voices. The Classical era, represented today by Marianna Martines, featured one of young Sheldon’s finest performances: the «Sonata in A major». Sheldon displayed a mature grasp of the work’s dramatic undertones, no doubt a credit to the guidance of his tutor, Ms Kathryn Page. The Romantic period enjoyed the greatest representation, with Schumann, Chopin and Tchaikovsky. Particular mention must go to the enthusiastic ending of Chopin’s «Scherzo N. º 1 in B minor» (Op. 20), as played by Yinuo, which elicited a loud “wh...