In the Bordertown Civic Theatre on Sunday afternoon, July 20th 2008, a small but enthusiastic audience enjoyed a highly polished performance from visiting Adelaide trio Guila Tiver, contralto, Imants Larsens, violin and Monika Laczofy on piano.

Guila Tiver did patrons the courtesy of using the original language for an excellent choice of repertoire, providing programme notes for the Six German songs by Louis Spohr and giving delightful verbal translations for the rest. 

The programme included favourites from Mendelssohn and Schubert, operetta melodies by Robert Stolz, a group of French songs by Erik Satie and Francis Poulenc and finally thrilled everyone with some well-known Neapolitan songs.

Imants Larsens’ mastery of the violin was quite breathtaking and it is impossible to find the right superlatives.  There was never a falter as he displayed every technique in his repertoire, from the Introduction and Rondo Capricciosoby Camille Saint-Saens, to Pablo de Sarasates the Carmen Fantasy, Henryk Wieniawskis Polonaise brillante and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, by Rachmaninoff.  He also joined Guila for the Six German Songs  and Schuberts Ave Maria.  Imants played beautifully and the very highest of notes were sheer joy.

The superb performance of Monika Laczofy, whose playing tied the trio together admirably, supported all of this.

Their encore, Vocalise by Rachmaninoff, was a sublime finish to the programme.  

Pat Matthews dressed the stage attractively with a hall table, flowers and chair, which added to the ambience of the performance and was much appreciated.

Nancy Mattinson

Bordertown Arts Council