House Concert Series, Piano Polina Shifrina, Mezzo Soprano Iryna ilnytska, Exwick Post Office, Inaugural Concert Saturday 30 March 2019

Piano: Polina Shifrina
Mezzo Soprano: Iryna Ilnytska

Exwick Post Office 1893

Russian pianist Polina Shifrina was joined by Ukrainian mezzosoprano Iryna Ilnytska on Saturday for the first of a series of four 'House Concerts' to be performed at Polina's Home, the former Exwick Post Office.

The post office was built for Antony Gibbs to a striking mock-tudor design by Walter Cave in 1893. (Antony's father William had previously paid for the construction of St Michael's Church in Mount Dinham.)

The half-timbered turret was inspired by William Morris' 'Arts & Crafts Movement' of the late nineteenth century. Inside, the building is equally fascinating. The reception room has a small mezzanine, just big enough to accommodate Polina's piano. There is also just room for Iryna to join Polina for accompanied songs.The rest of the room, which is at street level, forms a perfect auditorium for concert-goers.

Iryna Ilnytska

For the inaugural concert Iryna sang songs from "Sea Pictures" suite. The song cycle was composed by Sir Edward Elgar - shortly after Polina's house was built. He subsequently transposed the music to the contralto range at the request of Dame Clara Butt - who gave the premiere performance at the Norwich Festival, dressed as a mermaid.

Iryna did not experiment with piscine costume, but her singing was definitely to the high standard of Dame Clara herself. She opened with the poem "Sea Slumber Song" by Roden Noel, which plumbs the depth of her rich contralto range, with Polina's meticulous accompaniment. The combined sound created an extraordinary mood of deep emotion and longing.

For "In Haven" by Elgar's wife Alice Elgar, Iryna and Polina ably shifted the mood to one of secure contentment. As Iryna explained, Alice was expressing her feeling of safety from life's storms in the haven of her marriage to Edward. Although the words refer to storms at sea and on land, Iryna and Polina created an unforgettable sensation of peace and tranquility fully in keeping with Alice's original sentiments.

Finally the duo turned to the most popular of the five songs, "Where Corals Lie" by Richard Garnett. The sense of yearning returns, but with the the addition of exotic feelings inspired by the beauty of the ocean floor. It is an exhilarating experience to be so close to an operatic singer of Iryna's calibre when she gives an emotive exposition of such expressive music. Polina's little experiment worked perfectly and the resulting sound was a joy to share.

Polina Shifrina

Polina also played three pieces for solo piano, all of which had a gentle undulating rhythm in keeping with the watery theme of the evening. The "Shepherd Boy" Étude by Frédéric Chopin (Opus 25 No1, 1836) followed perfectly from "In Haven" conjuring the image of a boy sheltering from the rain in a mountain cave. With skilfull determination Polina built from a gentle downpour to a flood of tempestuous sound, before depicting the gentle return of peace.

"Frühlingsrauschen" (The Rustle of Spring) by Norwegian Composer Christian Sinding is contemporary with Elgar's "Sea Pictures". Polina's wonderful depiction of the the exciting restlessness of newly formed leaves and branches in a stiff spring breeze could also be heard as the restless movement of water.

A captivating evening of music -
Mezzo Soprano: Iryna Ilnytska
Piano: Polina Shifrina

Finally Iryna and Polina moved to music from the twentieth century - but only just (1901). Iryna sang "Speak, Music" a poem by Arthur Benson, also set to music by Elgar. Mirroring the longing of the Sea Slumber Song, Benson's words implore sweet voices to lull her into restful sleep. A beautiful lullaby, delightfully performed.

Polina's final solo piece was "Jeux d'Eau" (Fountains/Water Features) by Maurice Ravel. As Polina's right hand created the gentle rolling sound of falling water, her left hand melody sounded the joyous laughter of the river god as it tickled him, very noticeably including the very lowest keys on the piano to great effect.

This little evening of songs and piano pieces was very thoughtfully selected and impressively performed, creating a magical atmosphere for a heavenly hour. And there are more musical soirées planned for the near future. On Saturday 4 May, Polina and Iryna will be together again at Polina's house to perform music by Mozart and Beethoven.

To give a little foretaste of the pleasure to come, Saturday's concert ended with Cherubino's aria from 'Le Nozze di Figaro', "Voi che Sapete che Cosa e Amor" (You Ladies who Know what Love Is). This startling shift to comic opera gave a very beguiling indication of how different the next 'House Concert' will be.

Future events at Exwick Post Office will be:

Mozart and Beethoven: Saturday 4 May 6pm

Rachmaninoff: Friday 24 May 6pm

Final Concert - music TBC: Saturday 22 June 6pm

Iryna will also be in concert with Stella Maris Trio
Glenorchy Church Exmouth
Wednesday 17 April 12.30pm
EASTER OFFERINGS
Piano: Sam Baker
Soprano: Rachel Phillips
Mezzo Soprano: Iryna Ilnytska
Handel, Bach, Pergolesi, Mendelssohn . . .