Concert Review: Inaugural Concert of the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation

By John Sidgwick

LONDON, 18 February 2000 - The Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation, which was set up at the end of 1999 by the London-based entrepreneur, musician and fine arts expert, Heather de Haes, aims at creating a platform for musicians from the United Kingdom and from Switzerland in order that individual talents be appreciated by an international audience.

The Foundation's launch concert took place on 9 February in the elegant premises of the Agnew Galleries in London's Old Bond Street and a distinguished gathering of guests was entertained to some exceptionally fine music-making.

The eighteen-year-old cellist, Gemma Rosefield, who is resident in London, gave a beautiful and mature performance of Brahms' Sonata in E minor op. 38, with the young Israeli pianist, Inon Barnatan at the keyboard. This was duo playing at its best. Rosefield followed this with Pierre Fournier's arrangement for cello A string of Paganini's Moses Variations (originally written for the G string of the violin), a performance which revealed the full range of her technical prowess. Rosefield's playing is distinguished by a sensitive quality of tone, coloured by a multitude of nuances. Already endowed with a track record of successes, she must surely be destined to make her mark on the international circuit.

The pianist Frank Lévy, now in his mid-thirties and resident in New York, was brought up in Switzerland and studied at the Lausanne Conservatoire. He has established himself both as performer and pedagogue and on the occasion of the Foundation's inaugural concert, he displayed all the sensitivity and elegance on which his reputation is based. Four Intermezzi by Schubert confirmed the excellent impression created by his recording of sonatas by the same composer for the Palexa label. Lévy has the gift of conjuring up a quite special atmosphere, taking one to the heart of the composer. As an encore, he performed Brahms' Intermezzo in A Major op 118 n° 2, a contemplative piece in which the teneramente marking was observed with the deepest feeling. We look forward to hearing Lévy again soon.

More concerts, both in London and Switzerland are scheduled by the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation. In addition, the Foundation, which benefits from the support of one of London's leading patrons of the arts, Mrs. Jackie Rosenfeld, will be seeking to promote artists, painters, sculptors and writers.