Spring in Paris

On a cold Tuesday, with the temperature in the mid-30s, and a drizzling dry sleet beginning to fall, the noon time concert at Epiphany Church by violinist Julie Savignon and pianist Cecilia Dunoyer, was titled "Spring in Paris" and featured 19th and early 20th century French compositions.

So we would not feel bad, though, at the start it was announced that the weather in Paris was 37 degrees, with dense fog, and a wind chill that made it feel like 31.

It was an outstanding program, with beautiful violin playing by Savignon, a young violinist who should have a real career ahead of her.

Familiar (by melody if not by name) works by Massenet (Meditation from Thais) and Faure (Sicilienne) set the stage for a beautifully melancholy program, more dedicated to lingering winter temperatures than to spring flowers. The highlight (highlight of highlights) was a performance of Poulenc's Sonata for Violin and Piano, written in memory of Frederico Garcia Lorca, who was executed by the Francists in Spain. A very powerful and beautiful piece. Debussy's Sonata for Violin and Piano was also nicely performed.

The final short piece was a habanera by Ravel, with Spanish rhythms, which I thought would end the concert on a lively note. Wrong. It was a melancholy habanera, a fitting conclusion.