REVIEW OF ROSALIND BENTLEY MEMORIAL CONCERT

in our 56th concert series

by our Chairman VALERIE WARD

Wednesday, June 15th, 2005, 8pm

MIHO HAKAMATA violin, GERARD LE FEUVRE cello

NIGEL CLAYTON piano

Fitting Tribute to Local Musician

Rosalind Bentley, who lived in Virginia Water for many years and taught piano and cello, was born in Hollywood, Belfast and had a varied and lively career in music, travelling with E.N.S.A. and giving concert parties for the Armed Forces during WWII in such places as Ceylon, India and the Far East she recalled such incidents as playing the piano in the open air between Rangoon and Mandalay where she was soaked, as was the piano, and the keys started sticking. Later she played on cruise liners, and so it was particularly appropriate to have Nigel Clayton and his wife Miho Hakamata taking part in a memorial concert for her for Egham & District Music Club this month, as they also perform on cruise ships as well as enjoying international performing careers on dry land. Rosalind taught at Heathfield and St. George’s Ascot on her return to the UK, and many of her pupils were still keeping in touch with her years after leaving school.

As a member of the music club for many years, Rosalind served on the committee, performed in Members’ Concerts, and in light-hearted vein improvised medleys of well-known classics for quizzes at social evenings. She very much enjoyed playing chamber music with friends and attending Darlington International Summer School of Music in Devon. She was also a great bridge player!

The concert at the United Church was a totally fitting tribute, including works she played herself over the years, such as the Frank Bridges “Miniatures” for piano trio, the Beethoven A major Sonata for `cello and piano, and the Brahms B major piano Trio Op. 8. The cellist for the evening was Gerard Le Feuvre, who lives in Jersey, but performs frequently in London, the USA, and in Europe. He also directs the King’s Orchestra, which will be performing at St. John’s Church, Egham later this year. Miho Hakamata also played the Tartini “Devil’s Trill” sonata with Nigel Clayton, a very virtuosic and exciting rendering of this sizzling piece. The whole concert was of an amazingly high musical standard, and played with great commitment and feeling as well as technical skill by these fine artists.