Laurence Perkins & Yoshiko Endo
(Bassoon & Roland keyboard)

Yoshiko Endo & Laurence Perkins (Photo: Liz Isles)

Laurence Perkins plays Bassoon, Yoshiko Endo plays Roland keyboard. They have released a joint digital mini-album of 4 songs from West Side Story:

Leonard Bernstein: Four songs from ‘West Side Story’
i. Maria  ii. Tonight  iii. Somewhere  iv. Something’s Coming

Released in the month of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, this digital release celebrates some of his best-known music – and with a special link as well! For this recording of four songs from West Side Story, Laurence teamed up with pianist Yoshiko Endo who played a Baldwin grand piano that once belonged to Bernstein. Its warm but clear sound is perfectly suited to this music. The wonderfully vocal qualities of the bassoon’s sound is eminently suitable to this great music in the excellent performing edition by David J Elliot.

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 “Resonances“ (announced March 18th) 

Michael Haydn: Concertino
Ruth Gipps: Honey-coloured Cow
Elgar: Romance
Ernest Tomlinson: Little Serenade
Poulenc: Nocturne No. 1 in C major [piano]
Bernstein (arr. David J Elliott): West Side Story (four songs)

INTERVAL

Gershwin: Walking the Dog
Albeniz: Granada
Michael Head: Clouds
Paul Lewis: Snazzy-Jazzy [bassoon]
Laurence Perkins: Darkness at Derwentwater
Gershwin (arr. Perkins): A Gershwin Rhapsody

‘Resonances’ is a unique concert presentation combining the natural sound of traditional classical music performance with stunning new digital technology. Leading bassoonist Laurence Perkins brings the expressive voice of the instrument into the 21st century in a live performance with pianist Yoshiko Endo, blending the bassoon’s glorious sound with the rich timbres of a fine concert grand piano in an attractive, accessible and varied concert programme. In short, an enjoyable and memorable musical experience for all!

Brief Report “on the night”

A thoroughly professional and well put-together concert. Starting in the 18th century with a piece by Michael Haydn (brother of the more famous Joseph), they rapidly came almost up-to-date with a quirky piece by Ruth Gipps that certainly had a surprise ending! In a slight change to the advertised programme the order of the next 2 pieces was swapped. First came a typical piece of light music by Ernest Tomlinson, followed by classic Elgar  in romantic mood. A Poulenc nocturne gave Yoshiko a chance to show off the keyboard. Then a short “encore” piece written by Bernstein for his wife. The first half ended with four songs from West Side Story (Maria, Something’s coming, Somewhere and Tonight).

The second half was bookended by Gershwin, starting with a short jaunty piece. Next, Albeniz beautifully evoked the Granada area of Spain. Another short modern piece  and a fun jazz-inspired piece led up to Laurence’ solo of his own work. He introduced this by quoting part of the Wordsworth poem which had inspired him, and the music certainly had an eerie other-worldy feeling. Finally came a Gershwin Rhapsody which include 6 main pieces and short snippets of several others. The main songs were Soon, A Foggy Day in London Town, The Lorelei, Love walked in, Fascinating Rhythm and I got Rhythm. All-in-all a very good night.

Press Report

The finale of The Middlewich and District Concerts Society’s 36th season was a recital by Laurence Perkins (bassoon) and Yoshiko Endo (Roland keyboard), who produced a splendid evening of live music.

Their programme began with a “Concertino” by Michael Haydn, the younger brother of the more famous Joseph, but quite an accomplished composer. Moving forward two hundred years they played a quirky piece by Ruth Gipps, the “Honey-coloured Cow”, quite descriptive and with an unexpected ending. Ernest Tomlinson wrote a lot of light music, perhaps the best known piece being the “Little Serenade”. In complete contrast the “Romance” by Edward Elgar sounded almost melancholy. A Poulenc Nocturne gave Yoshiko a chance to show off the keyboard, which was surrounded by masses of cables and other paraphernalia, but produced a sound akin to a Steinway grand piano. Music by Leonard Bernstein concluded the first half. There was a short anniversary piece written for his wife, followed by four songs from West Side Story (Maria, Something’s Coming, Somewhere and Tonight).

The second half started with “Walking the Dog” (George Gershwin), continued with Isaac Albeniz’ portrait of “Granada”, and allowed Laurence to have fun with “Snazzy-Jazzy” by Paul Lewis. Laurence’s “Darkness at Derwentwater” was inspired by a poem by Wordsworth and had an eerie other-worldly feel. Finally came “A Gershwin Rhapsody”. Laurence had arranged six songs by George Gershwin (Soon, A Foggy Day in London Town, The Lorelei, Love Walked In, Fascinating Rhythm and I Got Rhythm) and joined them together with snippets from other pieces including “An American in Paris” and “Rhapsody in Blue”. And thus ended a most enjoyable concert.

For more information  about Laurence visit his own website (in a new window), by clicking HERE.