Wendy Nugent (Grand Piano)

Wendy Nugent has previously appeared several times as half of Dolby and Hughes (4 hands 1 piano) most recently on Saturday 12th October 2019. Since then, on Saturday 25th November 2023 she was on her own for the first time, playing a Grand Piano to a full house. This went down so well that we invited her straight back, again playing a Grand Piano (especially hired for the concert).

Here is a PDF of the Poster for this Concert (click to VIEW or right click to SAVE). Please feel free to print and display the poster to help publicise this concert.

Programme (announced 3rd April)

Bach: Solfeggietto
Mozart: Sonata in F major, K332 (3 movements)
Fanny Mendelssohn: Six Mélodies pour le piano, Livre 1, Op.4 no.2
Felix Mendelssohn: Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
Debussy: Clair de Lune, from ‘Suite Bergamasque’

 INTERVAL

Chopin: Ballade in G minor,  Op.23
Amy Beach: Dreaming, Op.15 no.3
Cécile Chaminade: Toccata,  Op.39
Daria Vasileva: Etude : Un souffle du passé
Gershwin : Preludes for Piano (3 movements)

Brief Report “on the night”

An exquisite concert attended by around 40 people. Wendy kept us all entertained with her amazing finger-work, and also explained the interesting background to many of the pieces. She began with a delightful miniature piece by CPE Bach. Then came a Mozart Sonata which finished very fast with lots of notes. A delicate piece by Fanny Mendelssohn was followed by a piece by her brother that start slowly and gradually got faster and faster. A calmer piece by Debussy closed the first half, leaving us wanting more.

After the break, an enchanting Chopin Ballade was followed by 3 pieces composed by ladies. Amy Beach’s “Dreaming” wasn’t as calming as the title would suggest, Cécile Chaminade’s Toccata was fast and furious, Daria Vasileva’s Etude was reflective. The final 3 pieces by Gershwin were jazzy and conjured up the sound of New York. As an encore we were treated to Billy Mayerl’s “Sweet William”. All I can say after that is “Come back soon please Wendy”.

Press Report

The 35th season of Middlewich and District Concerts Society concerts finished with a flourish – an excellent piano recital given by local favourite Wendy Nugent. Apart from being a consummate pianist she is also a great communicator, providing anecdotes on the background to each piece and of her involvement with it.

The recital began with CPE Bach’s “Solfeggietto”, a delightful miniature. The sonata in F, K332 by Mozart is one of her favourites. With its sublime second movement it was easy to see why. Fanny Mendelssohn was a prolific composer, despite managing the household with a large family and being in great demand as a soloist. Wendy played a delicate piece from “Six Mélodies pour le piano”. The music by her brother, Felix, is better known. His “Rondo Capriccioso” provided a ferocious contrast. “Clair de Lune”, by Debussy, provided a calm, dreamy conclusion to the first half.

The Chopin “Ballade in G minor” ebbed and flowed and was enchanting.  Amy Beach’s “Dreaming” was full of luscious harmonies and Cécile Chaminade’s “Toccata” was fast and furious. Daria Vasileva is a young Russian pianist. In 2024 she composed “Etude: Un souffle du passé”, a reflective piece in a Romantic style. The “Preludes for piano” by George Gershwin had a jazzy feel and conjured up the sounds of New York. As an encore we were treated to Billy Mayerl’s “Sweet William”, in tribute to her late father, William.