Wendy Nugent (then Wendy Dolby) and Tony Hughes met and started playing together over a decade ago. In that time they have been entertaining audiences all over the North West with their varied and exciting repertoire, which consists of a mix of original piano duets and arrangements of orchestral work. More recently they have recorded their first CD "Crossing Hands", packed full of their favourite music. They are delighted to return to Middlewich once again.
Here is a PDF of the Poster for this Concert. Click on the link to VIEW it in a new window, Right Click to SAVE it.
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Brief Report "on the night"
What a splendid way to open our 30th season. The Dolby and Hughes Piano Duo were in fine form and kept the audience enthralled throughout.
They started with Leonard Bernstein's boisterous overture to his operetta "Candide". Next was Mozart's Sonata in C, K521, which he described as 'rather difficult'. It provided a pleasing contrast in form and pace. Tony then gave a dazzling performance of the Rachmaninoff Prelude Opus 23, No. 4, from memory. The first half concluded with a Fantasy on tunes from Bizet's opera "Carmen", many of them being well-known.
The second half began with Ligeti's Sonatina. This was quite modern and unexpectedly accessible, the slow movement being mesmerising. The Waltz from Masquerade, the Adagio from Spartacus and the Sabre Dance from Gayane, all by Khatchaturian, were played as a set with gusto or delicacy, as required. Wendy's solo was an "Etude de concert" by Pierne and demonstrated complete mastery of the piece. Tony thought she should do the whole concert by herself! They finished with a selection from the "L'Arlesienne" suites by Bizet.
Apart, of course, from an encore: Mussorgsky's "Gopak", a Russian dance, demonstrated by a member of the audience, much to everyone's surprise!
For more information about Dolby & Hughes visit their own web-site (in a new window), by clicking HERE