Adam Davies is not only a pianist: he’s also an archivist. I admire his plan to record the works of his fellow Beverlonian, Anthony Hedges, later this year, which demonstrates a passion for preservation and an admirable spirit compelled to share what he has discovered he is passionate about. The three songs he performed earlier today at Christ Church might have been novelties to some of us—though kudos to the gentleman who was already acquainted with Mr. Hedges.
That being said, the piece I enjoyed the most today was Robert Schuman’s «Träumerei, op. 15 N.º 7», from his Scenes from Childhood. Its introspective, tender mood transported me to a place apt for pensive meditations—see the opening thought for a glimpse of what I was thinking during Mr. Davies’ soft, melancholic performance. The fact that Mr. Davies organised the first half of his concert around the theme of childhood further deepens my perception of him as not only a great pianist but also a thinker—a philosopher of his craft.
If I were to guess what the audience liked best, however, I’d say the «Alla turca» part of Mozart’s «Sonata N.º 11 in A major (K 331)» was the most well-received piece. I couldn’t help but notice several local audience members artfully playing along, and I’m inclined to believe this piece must have been a staple of the conservatoires of yesteryear, given the agile fingering witnessed; it was all Für Elise and Ballade pour Adeline when I was growing up. Christ Church, however, was not as crowded as usual today for the last concert of the summer season of their Midweek Music series. By the time Mr. Davies’ finished his encore, the «Notturno» of the «Sei pezzi per pianoforte» by Italian Ottorino Respighi, I counted fewer than one hundred attendees. Perhaps some of the usual crowd were enjoying a pleasant day out in the sun. I hope to see them back on September 17, when Christ Church resumes its midweek concerts with another pianist-intellectual, Maria Stratigou, who is an archivist of sorts herself, as evidenced by her complete recordings of Louise Farrenc’s piano works.