| | | Graham McDonald in Concert - 26 June |
 Mozart,
Beethoven, Chopin, Grieg and Brahms filled St. Mungo’s on the
evening of Sunday 26th as Graham McDonald delighted the audience of
well over a hundred, with his piano concert in aid of Love Russia.
Presented
in three parts Graham opened with Mozart Piano Sonata K332 in F Major
which got his fingers “warmed up”. Beethoven Rondo Opus 51
No1 followed before moving on to Chopin Prelude in D Flat. Graham then
played the Norwegian composer Grieg, famous for his
“morning” and “Hall of the Mountain King” ,
Nocturne Opus 28 No 15 as a lead into the end of the first part with
Brahms Intermezzo Opus 118 No 2 in A.
 Alex
Cooke then presented the work of the Love Russia charity, and what it
has achieved to date, especially through the “Genesis”
project that works with orphans to help them find a career and become
self sufficient.
But the best was kept for last. Graham is a
real fan of Rachmaninoff, and has been since he was a child. For those
not familiar with Rachmaninoff, his compositions are mostly “full
on” pieces that test not only the pianist’s skill and
talent, but give the piano a real run for its money. Graham had worked
hard the previous days tuning and oiling the c1895 Broadwood Grand in
preparation for the concert and Rachmaninoff Monument Musiceaux No 3 in
B Minor and the performance was magical. At one point I’m sure
smoke was coming from the keyboard as the piano looked if it was about
to melt, such was the energy that Graham put into the music.
But
Graham also has talents when it comes to composing, and he played a
selection that he had composed in his late teens, under the title
Morceaux de Salon containing 8 movements before finishing with a Liszt
translation of Schumann “Widmung” (dedication). A standing
ovation for Graham was followed by a cheese and wine.
Grahams’
own compositions, are available on CD, priced £5.00. Of the fifty
copies, 33 were sold on the night. The remainder will be for sale in
the Church each Sunday until they are all gone. Be quick, as when
they’re gone they’re gone as they say. All proceeds go to
Love Russia.
Over £1500 has been raised from, and since the Concert for Love Russia
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