Wit and affection for new music make for an accessible program.

August 15, 2014

Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre

A seventy minute solo recital might prove a difficult sell for many performers, but Friday evening saw a full MRC Salon to welcome pianist and vocalist Lisa Moore in her concert titled From Me to You. Her warm, affable presence spoke of one comfortable on stage, and at home with creating intimacy in a sizeable audience. Not only that, her witty observations and genuine affection for the upcoming music was palpable. What could have been a difficult program was completely accessible. 

Moore began the evening’s program with two fundamental examples of Philip Glass’ minimalist idiom – his Metamorphosis I and IV. Glass is a divisive composer, but their inclusion was a perfect prelude for the evening to come. Both Metamorphosis I and IV acted as a tonic to a busy day, and transfixed the audience through their surging inevitability.

In Metamorphosis I, Moore took the ample opportunities that are presented in the phrasing, and avoided the material becoming clunky or boring. The dropping tone motif...