Euphonium Recital
February 14th 2006
United Reformed Church
Euphonium David Childs, Piano Harvey Davies
Review: Susan Allison - The Cumberland News

EUPHONISTIC BRILLIANCE IN PERSON

Any doubts about having a euphonium soloist at Cockermouth Music Society's February concert were instantly dispelled by David Childs and his piano accompanist Harvey Davies. Intent on justifying his aim to be a euphonium soloist in the world of classical music, David started in great style which never faltered throughout the evening. A young man of considerable charm, David introduced each piece in a clear and informative way and showed a maturity of approach which will stand him in good stead for years to come. He performed modern pieces such as Parkin's Skunk and Firsova's Euphonisms with the same attention to detail, brilliant execution and carefully controlled tone as went into transcriptions, Monti's Czardas and Paganini's Carnival of Venice for example. The cascades of notes were quite breathtaking at times and those who might of entertained doubts about brass soloists were won over by such superlative playing. Harvey Davies played a couple of charming solos and accompanied in a manner worthy of such an outstanding soloist.

Other artists featured in Cockermouth Music Society's Concert Series included Pianist Nikolai Demidenko, the London Mozart Trio, London Concertante Chamber Ensemble, Jennifer Pike and the McFarlane String Quartet.