This most memorable period instrument performance by Toronto performers Andrea Botticelli and Keiran Campbell highlighted the salon venue as an ideal context in which to showcase leading Canadian talent.
Andrea Botticelli studied as a modern pianist and specialized in performance on historical keyboard instruments. Keiran Campbell is a core member of the Tafelmusik Baroque orchestra. This was the debut performance of the duo who had been planning a live concert since covid. North York, Ontario eagerly welcomes classical music the Meridian Arts Centre, and was a perfect community in which to present this performance.
What you missed
The intimate colours of period instruments lend themselves to salon-style performance, which share features with the original settings in which they would have been used. As is known to cellists, and in particular Steven Isserlis, playing on gut strings achieves surprising timbral colours and uncovers musical subtleties. The sounds of Campbell’s gut string cello spoke clearly, warmly and in a very human way to the sold-out audience.
Andrea Botticelli
The performance featured a Conrad Graf fortepiano from 1835, which has been lovingly restored by Edwin Beunk in the Netherlands. Botticelli has recorded on this instrument previously, but this was the first live performance on the instrument in North America. Both the recording project and this concert are part of an initiative to curate and profile a growing historical keyboard instrument collection available for research and performance.
The concert opened with some context, provided by Botticelli. She described the composers, their influences, what the performers hoped to achieve, and an introduction to the instruments. The performance was passionate – a credit to the excellence of the performers, and their understanding of the repertoire and venue. The program opened with a Romance by Clara Schumann, WoO 28, a solo piano piece which was carefully selected as a prelude to Robert Schumann’s Romances, op. 94, for cello and piano.
Then followed the well-known Brahms Intermezzo, op. 118 no. 2, and the E-minor Cello Sonata, Op. 38. The Intermezzo, written by Brahms towards the end of his life, is dedicated to Clara Schumann. The later romantic repertoire suited the period keyboard instrument, while stretching it somewhat, because of its magnificent warm and lush bass register. Campbell used a modern bow (rather than a Baroque or classical bow) to live up to the breadth of the score. The sonata is an opportunity for cellist and pianist to create dialogue in a very romantic and egalitarian language.
Keiran Campbell
A question and answer period followed the conclusion of the performance, during which Botticelli and Campbell enthusiastically explored the repertoire further. The audience warmly appreciated the evening, as demonstrated by their comments following the conclusion of the concert.
