Stowmarket Concerts, Flights of Fancy and Fantasy, Regal Theatre, Stowmarket, Sunday, January 18 Flights of Fancy and Fantasy lived up to all expectations.

Stowmarket Concerts, Flights of Fancy and Fantasy, Regal Theatre, Stowmarket, Sunday, January 18

Flights of Fancy and Fantasy lived up to all expectations. The intriguing title was coined by the two musicians Mark Oldfield (baritone) and Timothy Lole (piano) who compiled and presented the programme.

Mark was of particular interest to the audience as he grew up in Stowmarket and attended the High School. His voice has matured into a delightfully mellow timbre and together with his acting skills his performance was a joy to watch.

Timothy makes an ideal accompanist. He is an very skilful pianist. The duo is closely a-tuned and sensitive to one another.

Three songs: I'll sail upon the Dogstar, Purcell; Sleep, Peter Warlock; Let Beauty Awake, Vaughn Williams; commenced the journey. Mark's entertaining introduction to each of their chosen sections helped to set the scene and came under the collective title of English Dreams.

Mystery and Nostalgia is their name for Liederkreis [Opus 39] by Schumann. These 12 attractive short songs describe the feelings and hopes of a young man in his quest for love. Mark and Timothy captured the shifting moods and nuances of the words.

In a complete change of style French Fancies included songs by Debussy and Faure as well as three songs, with a Spanish flavour, by Ravel depicting the Knightly Ambitions of Don Quichotte culminating in a very inebriated and amusing Chanson a Boire. Now to Russia and Tchaikowsky's Don Juan's Serenade In a neat pun this song came under the heading of Nightly Ambitions.

Timothy stepped into the lime-light for a few minutes to brilliantly play the Prelude in C sharp minor [Opus 3 no.2] by Rachmaninoff.

In a somewhat tenuous link to the imaginative world the songs had been exploring, Solitary Hotel indulged in a Hotel Fantasy.

The words came from James Joyce Ulysees and read like the stage directions of a play. I loved its individuality and the adept musical setting by Samuel Barber.

The expedition was completed in East Anglia with two folk songs: an arrangement by Benjamin Britten of the Plough Boy and Yarmouth Fair arranged by Peter Warlock.

A very satisfying trip in excellent company was enjoyed by all.

Judith Newman