Caroline and the Despax family

Unlike the last concert I described, which I was immediately before this one, with a brisk walk between the two venues on that hot day, the 5 o'clock event at All Saints was easy to watch, easy to follow, and easy on the ears. It is always a great pleasure to see the young Quatuor Despax in action, they are siblings with a graceful way of playing together and encouraging one another. Being a French speaking ensemble from Gatineau, I daresay they have a preference for French music. 

For this performance they were joined by Caroline Léonardelli, Ottawa's best known harpist. She was born in France, and most of the programme was by French composers: Marcel Grandjany's Aria in the Classic Style, Debussy's Danse sacré et danse profane), then the impressionistic Féerie: Prélude et Danse --- two movements of a suite by Marcel Tournier, from 1912. Here are the performers, playing this music a couple of years ago:

The concert concluded with the Prelude, Aria and Rondeau from Suite Lyrique, by John Rutter, that very British, very popular composer, whose style often seems (to me) cloyingly sweet. The Aria was obviously inspired by listening to Bach. The following is a recording for harp and orchestra, rather than harp and String Quartet:

 The Rondeau had moments of originality where the harmonic progressions were not quite so predictable.