The Spina Benignetti Piano Duo charmed south coast music lovers during their concert last Sunday afternoon.
Eleanora Spina and Michele Benignetti showed their mastery of the piano, and wonderful chemistry as a musical duo.
Playful pieces from a Mid-Summer Night’s Dream provided a well received start to the afternoon. The melodies were familiar and the musicians and the audience warmed to each other. The melodic and romantic works from Saint-Saëns and Schubert showed us how music for piano duo can romantic hear and to play. The young duo swayed and smiled together as they played. The concluding items by Rachmaninov gave the duo an opportunity to challenge and thrill us with some showmanship. Arms flourished, fingers flew and the players moved – sometimes in time, sometimes as if they were competing for space on the keyboard. The encore was a waltz by Samuel Barber that had the audience tapping their feet and wanting more.
“It was the best live performance I have ever heard” said one audience member, a teenage piano student. He was there with his family, who agreed. They all joined in the Q&A session with the musicians after the concert and asked how the musicians handled stage fright. The answer was of course, practice, practice, practice.
The concert was held in the beautiful atmosphere of St Bernard’s Catholic Church at Batehaven. The bright light, stained glass windows, and views of Batemans Bay featuring Snapper Island and the mid waters of the bay, together with marvellous acoustics, all made for a concert experience for the ears and eyes.
Watch out for future concerts in the 2019 program presented by the South Coast Music Society. Celeste Haworth, Mezzo Soprano on Sunday 26 May; Kristian Chong (Piano) and Sophie Rowell (Violin) on Sunday 29 September; and The Chrysalis Trio on Sudnay 1 December. Tickets are available at www.southcoastmusicsociety.com
Above: Michele Benignetti and Eleanora Spina answer questions at Q&A after the concert
Above: the audience enjoying the performance
