Review by Peter Dawson

Metamorphoses is the name chosen by a group of three talented musicians to reflect their diverse backgrounds.

Coming from different parts of the world, they create images and emotions to tell a colourful story. They delighted the audience at The Gateway in Seaton last week with music covering nearly 250 years from classical to romantic to modern cinema and jazz.

British-American clarinettist Jean Johnson, has played in major concert halls in Britain, Europe and the USA. Viola player Carmen Flores has performed as soloist and guest Principal in Canada and in Europe and pianist and composer Ilona Timchenko has performed throughout Europe and now lives near Santiago Di Compostella.

This was the line-up for SeatonMusic's concert. The music in their programme included the playful Kegelstatt Trio by Mozart, written when the clarinet was a relatively new instrument, the romantic writing of Robert Schumann (Fairytale Stories) and Clara Schumann (Romance) and the late romantic work of Max Bruch (Eight Pieces op.83) to the Trio by the modern French composer Jean Françaix.

The range of moods and styles in all the pieces showed the skill of the musicians – jaunty, light-hearted moments contrasting with lyrical love duets, grand statements contrasting with dark moments, flowing lines contrasting with irregular rhythms, and throughout, beautiful solo moments with discreet (but challenging!) accompaniment. It was a real treat to hear this group, a combination which is not often heard in chamber music circles.

SeatonMusic's next concert features the violinist Joel Munday and pianist Lukas Kuprinski. They will play music by Beethoven, Chopin and César Franck on Thursday, December 8 at 7.30pm in The Gateway, Seaton Town Hall.

Tickets are £17 and can be purchased on the website www.SeatonMusic.org or at the door by cash or card. Admission is FREE for under-19s and full-time students.