The audience in All Saints’ Church was treated to the wonderfully poetic piano playing of Form 7 music scholar, Rupert Fell, at lunchtime on Wednesday 16 June. Rupert’s published programme surveyed four works by Liszt, opening with the first three of his Consolations in their revised version. Having given an eloquent verbal introduction from the piano stool, he exemplified his prayerful understanding of these three tender works with mature sensitivity of touch. In the subsequent performance of Lizst’s Liebestraum No. 2, Rupert’s expressive musicality was once again to the fore, including his mastery of the stormier and passionate passages at the heart of the work.
However, Rupert went on to surprise his audience with a sequence of three additional favourite pieces – Chopin’s Minute Waltz, Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat, and Schumann’s miniature masterpiece Träumerei. After the deft fingerwork of the famous Minute Waltz, Rupert reconnected with the contemplative mood of the first part of his programme. His sensitive playing of the Chopin and Schumann was a fitting finale to Rupert’s longstanding and heartfelt contribution to music at Oakham School. Thank you!
