Spring has sprung in Crawley!

We were treated to a celebration of the onset of Spring on Friday evening – from Lucy Jeal’s stunningly clear first note of the first movement of Spring, from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, to the uproariously joyful toe-tapping, hand clapping fun of Goran Bregovic’s Kustino Oro.

Ensemble Reza once again captivated its loyal audience at its latest concert at The Hawth in Crawley with a richly diverse and engaging display of musical talent. 

The clarity of the notes, the ingrained artistry and extraodinary levels of communication between musicians, with music filled with laughter, pathos and emotion were stunning.

Each musician brought their own personalities to the pieces. Pavlos picked up the mouth organ - arranged so brilliantly by Anna - in Copland’s Appalachian Springs with the effect soulful and so beautifully and delicately supported with subtle playing by the strings. 

Anna’s moving composition of Thomas Hardy’s poem about Spring not springing during World War 1 left the audience in silent awe. 

The musicians seem to be able to pick up, learn and master new instruments at will. We were delighted by Pavlo’s soulful singing of Felipe Rodrigues’ Portuguese song Primavera, and Anna’s fervent accordion playing a delight that added vibrant energy and a lively Latin american flavour to the second half of the show.

We’ve never been to a concert where a group of musicians were so connected, passionate and sophisticated in their mastery of music. The communication between players and performance was so captivating it felt like the audience would have stayed for hours longer given the opportunity.

It’s rare to find opportunities in West Sussex to connect so closely with talented artists, but Ensemble Reza showed without doubt that a couple of hours of live music with such expressive performers can be an energising, joyful, and uplifting experience.