Sunday 21 May 2017
Laura Snowden - Guitar
Laura began her studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School where guitar tuition was made possible by a donation from The Rolling Stones, she went on to study at the Royal College of Music, winning the Guitar prize in her first year and the Ivor Mairants Guitar Award in 2014. She was hand picked by Julian Bream to give a recital at the Wigmore Hall in 2015.
Laura is a winner of the Tillett Trust, St John's Smith Square, International Guitar Foundation and Making Music Philip & Dorothy Green young artist scheme, which is supporting this concert.
Review by Terry Keeler
21 May 2017
LAURA SNOWDEN – GUITAR
Cromer Music Evenings invited the young guitarist to perform for the penultimate concert of the 2016/17 series.
Having started her studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School, then on to the Royal College of Music winning many prizes, led to being hand picked by Julian Bream to give a recital at the Wigmore Hall. After today's recital one can understand why.
Playing music by John Dowland, Villa Lobos, Laura Snowden, Rodrigo, Richard Rodney Bennett, Barrios, Tarrega and Kaspar Mertz.
The two compositions by Laura Snowden were mesmerising – one named Anpao (the Goddess of Dawn) expressing thoughts whilst waiting to board a plane in the very early hours: the second piece L'Etoile et la Rose was an emotional work musically picturing a young boy coming from a star to be taken on a journey and finding a rose – beautifully performed, bringing to the capacity audience a master class regarding the capabilities of the guitar.
There were moments when one would think two guitars were being played: especially when Snowden accompanied the melodic line with broken chords on the same instrument – the sustaining of notes, when appropriate, was very impressive.
All the pieces in the programme embraced all the possibilities of the instrument when in the hands of a master, so young, so confident with an informant stage presence.
What a future that lies ahead for this young artist and what a privilege it was to be present at Templewood on a beautiful afternoon, or should I say evening!
A concert not to be missed takes place at Templewood on Friday 30 June at 7.00 pm presenting Evie Anderson (mezzo soprano) and Simon Brown (piano).
Terry Keeler
Tel 01263 513273