THE RECITAL

The Australian National Trust has named Roger Woodward as a National Living Treasure. On Saturday 24th June 2006 at his Strathalbyn Town Hall recital the capacity audience came to realise exactly what that meant.

Our foremost concert pianist demonstrated his sublime skills in a varied programme which comprised a first half of works by J.S. Bach, Mozart and Debussy. The recital after the interval was devoted to Chopin – the Fourth Scherzo in E major Op.54, and the Third Sonata in B minor Op.58.

The audience remained silent and enthralled by the pure beauty and emotion of the music, and at the end erupted into a huge standing ovation which earned two encores.

For four hundred people, the Strathalbyn Town Hall will be always be remembered as the place in which they listened to and were totally captivated by one of the world’s greatest pianists.

In a short introduction, Eisteddfod Committee chairman, Bill Davidson had dedicated the recital to the memory of Beth Pethick who was a founder member of the Eisteddfod committee but who sadly passed away whilst this tenth anniversary weekend was still being planned.
 

THE MASTER CLASS

Back at the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon, another substantial audience was on hand to witness the Piano Master Class conducted by Roger Woodward working with eleven junior piano students, aged between 10 and 19.  The Master sat beside the piano and listened as each student played a piece of their own choice. He then discussed the performance with them, patiently suggesting improvements or variations, sometimes demonstrating by playing the piece himself, but always encouraging and praising the performances. With wonderful good humour he spoke to the students and to the audience explaining his philosophy of practice and performance. This was a fascinating afternoon for the audience and perhaps a once in a lifetime experience for the students. After the class he spent a long time in signing autographs, in discussion with parents and being photographed with each of the students. There was no argument that Roger Woodward was “wonderful with the children”. Another Town Hall experience that will not be easily forgotten.

Roger Woodward wasted no time while he was in Strathalbyn. At dinner after the recital, as a wine connoisseur he was impressed by a local red. The following morning, a lightning escorted tour of the wineries resulted in several cases of Langhorne Creek’s best being shipped to his  home  - in San Francisco.

An interesting postscript.: At the end of the last performance day (Sunday), the Eisteddfod committee received two messages with thanks for a “wonderful weekend”. The first was from Cr Mary Beckett, and the other was from Roger Woodward.

The Eisteddfod Committee thanks the many people whose enthusiastic support made the weekend - again in the words of Roger Woodward - “truly memorable”.