Concert review: Chee-Yun (violin) Mak Grgić (guitar)

In an appealing Korean/Slovenian mashup, titled East/West-ish, violinist Chee-Yun and guitarist Mak Grgić presented an array of arrangements – often originally created with piano in mind – which translated beautifully to the guitar. Bartók’s Six Romanian Folk Dances made a fine opening example: over the metallic guitar strumming, the long, fast-moving violin lines formed a natural complement.

The favourite for an appreciative audience was clearly an arrangement by Michael Foumai, who combined the ‘Goin’ home’ theme from Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony with a South Korean song by Dong-Jin Kim. The plaintive result brought a warm response from the crowd. And in Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen Chee-Yun’s sweetly effortless high notes were a joy.

Each of the artists had a solo sequence that provided welcome timbral breaks. Chee-Yun chose Fritz Kreisler’s Recitativo and Scherzo-Caprice, with its irresistible fireworks, while Grgić opted for three traditional Slovenian songs.

Despite the pair’s obvious expertise, after two-and-a-half hours, the menu grew slightly wearying, in the ‘too many desserts of the same size’ vein. Also, while the pair’s convivial informality was welcome – prefacing the works with a few jokes here and there – as the evening progressed, I longed for sequences in which their artistry and the music stood on their own, without introduction.

Never mind: most in the audience were receptive to the honourable intentions. The duo clearly enjoys working together, and the tonal beauty of the two instruments melded together as if born to do so.

BRUCE HODGES