Sublime Candlelit Brilliance

Lit by the warm glow of candle light, Ensemble Reza treated their sell-out audience to a top-level performance that packed in the full gamut of emotions in the sublime setting of Cuckfield’s Holy Trinity Church on Saturday night. 

Whilst sipping welcoming cups of warming mulled wine, we thoroughly enjoyed a glittering, light-hearted interpretation of Rossini’s String sonata no. 3 in C, setting the tone for a dazzling evening of music.

The musicians then dramatically changed tack with a stunning performance of Metamorphosen, Richard Strauss’s anguished ‘river of sound’ response to the death and destruction of World War II. Played with incredible passion and depth, Strauss’s continuous musical pulse resonated around the candlelit church in an extraordinarily moving experience.

After an interval, the tone lightened again in the best way possible with Mozart’s sparkling Sinfonia Concertante in Eb, K364. Mozart’s abundant score was brought to life with richly blended conversations between the instruments. The audience couldn’t stop themselves clapping loudly at the end of every movement.

Finally, the ensemble treated everyone to Rossini’s comical overture Il Signor Bruschino which had everyone in stitches. The perfect end to a fabulous evening of cleverly curated contrasts, performed by exemplary musicians.