On August 16th 2014 Canterbury Rotary Club sponsored a gala piano recital by a brilliant young pianist, who had been spotted months before in London by Rtn Gill Dixon.
Gill has been deeply involved in getting the club to sponsor a local concert as well as being the principal organiser of the event.
The text below is based on a review by Dr Stuart Field. The picture shows the superb Steinway grand piano in the auditorium, a converted church.
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This most enjoyable piano recital by the outstanding 27 year old international pianist John Paul Ekins was the result of the highly successful collaboration between the Rotary Club of Canterbury and Canterbury Christ Church University, raising funds to support and enhance the studying of music students in training at the Music School. Not only did we hear some brilliantly per- formed music but those in the packed hall were given a mini analysis of each piece of music prior to its playing, which greatly enhanced our enjoyment of the evening's programme. |
All photos by Robin Hendy. Click any image to enlarge.
 Guests arrive for drinks & canapes |
 and enjoy alfresco drinks (and a chat) |
 The audience is seated |
 John Harris introduces the programme |
 John Paul Ekins plays Schubert |
 Coat off for the Waldstein sonata! |
The recital commenced with the flawless playing of Mozart’s Fantasy in C minor, described by the performer as one of the most progressive works of its time due to its continuing dramatic mood changes.
Schubert’s well know Impromptu in A flat followed and our understanding of the work was all the better when we knew that the work had been composed with his knowledge of early death due to venereal disease!
The first half ended with Benjamin Britten’s huge work ‘Holiday Diary’. This technically and emotionally challenging work was dispatched with great aplomb with its double glissandi being a particular highlight.
After a most enjoyable ‘refreshment break’ the concert continued with Cantique d’Amour by Liszt. John Paul told us this work was composed in his ‘cerebral age’ when having given up his career as a concert pianist, Liszt created this beautifully performed piece ‘full of emotional lush’.
The masterly performance of the massive Sonata in C minor, composed for Count Waldstein by Beethoven completed the formal programme. However we were entertained by a Chopin Mazurka as an encore.
This young performer not only gave us an evening of technically almost perfect, varied and well-chosen recital pieces but was able to communicate with his audience both emotionally and verbally in a way which is rarely seen.
