REVIEW: Sisters have a great musical understanding of each other

The Thorn sisters, Becky (clarinet), Suzie (oboe) and Tammy (bassoon) formed the Rose Trio in 2006 and have been making a name for themselves ever since, winning numerous prizes and performing at prestigious venues such as The Royal Albert Hall and the Wigmore Hall.

They can now add Ardingly College to their portfolio of appearances after a delightful concert.

The evening opened with a very stylish account of the Allegro from Beethoven’s Grand Trio in C, op. 87. As you’d expect, the three sisters have a great musical understanding of each other and produced a highly polished rendition. This was followed by Hungarian composer Ferenc Farkas’ Sernade , and a piece called Stary Brucoun by Czech composer Julius Fucik. The title means ‘The Old Grumbler’ and the bassoon portrays a bear with a sore head – great fun for the audience, tricky for the bassoonist!

Two thirds of the trio were then joined by pianist Daniel King Smith for Poulenc’s Trio for Piano, Oboe and Bassoon. The first movement is a sparkling presto, the second is a soft dream described by Poulenc himself as “sweet and melancholic”, and the third a brisk rondo with more than a nod to a well-known Beethoven melody.

Poulenc’s rich and distinctive language was beautifully conveyed and King Smith’s playing was authoritative and meticulous.

The second half of the programme featured hornist James Pillai who joined the others for Mozart’s Quintet in E flat major, K. 452.

Mozart completed this work in 1784 and shortly after wrote to his father revealing: “I myself consider it to be the best thing I have written in my life.”

This is quite simply a magnificent work, and the instrumentalists did a magnificent job in presenting this to a delighted audience.