Viv McLean piano recital, Wilton's Music Hall

Something amazing happened last Wednesday in Grace's Alley in London's East End.

Wilton's Music Hall, the oldest and only existing Grand Music Hall in the world ,was the setting for a stunning recital by the acclaimed pianist Viv McLean.

The delight of the concert-goers was intense, as they entered through the fading Georgian facade,crossed the stone-flagged entrance hall, peered into the crumbling labyrinth of rooms and "drunk in" the ancient Mahogany Bar. The Hall itself, beautifully lit,its golden barley -twist pillars glowing in the romantic gloom, the proscenium stage with a gorgeous backdrop of draped, red velvet astonished; one visitor ,exploring the frescoed gallery with its sparkling fairy lights ,was moved to tears..

All this and not one note of music yet!

When the charismatic McLean sat down reverentially at the beautiful old Bluthner piano, we sensed that this would be no ordinary evening.

The performance of great Romantic music began ,appropriately, with that most Schubertian of Schubert pieces, the four Impromptus. Highlighting and contrasting, McLean presented these as shining miniatures ,each perfectly crafted, each with its own individual character, yet fitting together as a whole- here was true symbiosis and synergy.

With Liszt's Six Consolations, McLean took us on a journey through the emotions. This was not a mere display of dexterity and virtuosity,but sensitive, elegaic and meditative . The much-loved third Consolation, under McLean's hands, was delicate and charming, not overly sentimental, chiming perfectly with the mood of the hall.

After the interval, Liszt's poignant transcription of Schumann's song Widmung(from the poem by Ruckert -"You are my soul, my heart, my ecstasy and my pain") stirred such depths of emotion in this great artiste's interpretation that many wept.

It felt absolutely right that Rachmaninov, a fine pianist himself, inspired by song, should be heard next, here in this romantic venue ,with its fine accoustic, designed for music and song.The glorious melodies of the two Preludes , and McLean's sensitive interpretation swept us away to a magical place.

Some favourites by Chopin, another great pianist, comprised the last three pieces of the evening. The moving Ballade in G minor was followed by the exhilarating Fantasy-Impromptu (an inspiring special request from Wilton's Artistic Director, Frances Mayhew)with the tour de force of the third Scherzo bringing the evening to a dramatic close.

The response of the audience was extraordinary but unsurprising; there were cheers, bravos, whistles and even a spectacular flower arrangement tossed on to the stage by admiring fans.

From my vantage point in the wings, I saw a sea of happy faces wreathed in smiles, remarkably reminiscent of the picture hanging in Wilton's foyer of the audience in the hall two centuries ago; all animated and exultant, evoking happy ghosts of the past.

McLean rewarded us with an encore of another Chopin piece - a hauntingly beautiful Mazurka, and then ,to our delight and surprise, his jazzy version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow to which we were invited to join in.

Some did, humming and singing along softly.....

A perfect end to a perfect evening.

Carolina Bevilacqua