Chamber group plays final recital

The poster set the bar pretty high: three stylish musicians standing against a rugged backdrop, wielding instruments and sporting aviators.  And then there was the program, claiming “we we we so excited to be performing.” Yes, last Sunday’s recital featuring the musical styling of Sarah Harney ‘12, Sean Dennison ’11 and Zheng Zheng ’11 was an event Rebecca Black would have been proud of, and a musical treat for all involved. The group performed a varied and invigorating selection of pieces to a healthy sized audience in the CFA concert hall, showcasing some of the College’s finest musical ability that will surely be missed when two thirds of the trio graduate this May.

An unusual and inventive feature of the concert was the variety of instrumentalists —  the afternoon opened with a performance of the classic solo cello “Prelude No. 1 in G major” and progressed through two solo violin pieces, a cello and piano duet and finally a cello, violin and piano trio. To open with a Bach cello suite was a bold move; the piece is probably the best known amongst professional repertoire. It was nevertheless a wonderful listening experience, taken at a steady legato with incredibly delicate higher register.

The performance set the standard for the rest of the afternoon, as Dennison took to the stage to perform Strauss’s “Sonata in F major” with Harney. The three-movement work allowed for a full exposition of the pair’s lyrical sense; most memorable was the textural variety in the first movement, shifting between solo instrumental sections, moments of dialogue between the two and well-balanced melody and accompaniment. The second movement also allowed the supple phrasing of the piano to shine through, as well as the impressive sound and unity of all their dynamic movements. Ringing higher notes cut through the wallowing cello melody in a soft polyphony.

The second half of the concert again began with solo performances; Zheng’s rendition of the prelude to Bach’s “Partita No. 3 in E major” was technically astounding. Dennison, who played piano in the first half of the concert, surprised many as he strolled onstage with a violin in hand.

Concert-goer Sarah Barnhart ’12 said.“I was really confused. I thought he was the pianist. What was he doing with a violin?” Despite this initial confusion, Dennison’s unreal musicianship shone through in his performance of Ysaye’s “Sonata in A minor.”The piece, a mixture of classical melodies and sudden interruptions, must have been challenging to pull off, and the haunting modality Dennison was able to achieve was a testament to true musical flair. As Barnhart later said, “He stunned me, but there were no tazers involved.”

The trio reunited onstage for a final jazzy number, where their musical styles fused to create an energetic finale. The group, which has been performing together since 2009, agreed that it was a great way to end their performance.

“It’s been amazing and rehearsals are always fun”, said Harney. Although Dennison and Zheng will be leaving the College in May, you can watch for Harney’s rich sound in Middlebury College Orchestra performances next year.