Sophie Yates visits The Russell Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments in Edinburgh to play extracts from Rameau's Pièces de clavecin on three extraordinary double-manual French harpsichords made in the late 1700s and fully restored to playing condition. She talks to the museum's curator, Darryl Martin, about the history of the instruments, and to harpsichord maker Andrew Garlick about how they each produce their own unique sound.
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Sophie Yates' Rameau was considered...briefly...on Nick Kenyon's BAL this morning (Sat. 14th June). Andrew Garlick is a near neighbour of mine and makes unbelievably beautiful instruments both in sound and appearance. (He is a bit sniffy about my own harpsichord which I like a lot but doesn't quite come up to his demanding standards.) Looking forward to the show. -
I thought NK was a bit too dismissive about Sophie Yates...I often like to hear a harpsichord in a resonant acoustic, but he clearly doesn't!
How interesting that you know Mr Garlick, ardcarp. I think I am right in saying that I once went to a concert by Trevor Pinnock in which he played in public for the first time on his newly-acquired instrument by AG...and he mentioned how he had been captivated by it. It was certainly a very special evening.Comment
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Sophie Yates has been a regular visitor to Edinburgh. The last time she was here a friend and I went to hear her play Bach. What a superb player. (I remember she shared the programme with a best forgotten violinist who gave a nervous account of the Chaconne.)
We spoke to her, (S.Y.) afterwards and asked her if, were she be given the opportunity, would she consider recording the complete Scarlatti sonatas. I remember her eyes lit up as, for one moment, she thought we were offering to underwrite it(!) When she recovered, she said she would use the instruments in the Russell Collection for the project and said she would have great fun trying to decide which instrument to use for which sonata.
It's long been one of my 'fantasy projects' if I ever won the lottery so, maybe one day. (Along with sponsoring Sir Simon and the Berlin Phil. to record the George Lloyd symphonies...
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I do remember asking her if she ever played Rachmaninov for fun! She laughed and replied 'with these hands?', which were very small. She winked and replied that she did have a soft spot for Chopin but would never play it publicly. It wasn't until later I thought it was a shame that she was pigeonholed into being an early music specialist.
Lovely lady!
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She teaches the harpsichord locally at eye watering prices! But worth every penny.
Her recording of the Handel keyboard suites are among my favourite records;and narrowly missed carrying off the BAL award last year. She really ought to be snapped up to do considerably more recording of the repertoire.
Will listen to this with keen interest.Comment
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I agree, Sir Velo, her three discs of the Handel suites are at the top of the list of these works for me - and she has the advantage of gorgeous Chandos sound. But she has also recorded various other discs for the same label. I like her recent Balbastre recital, too.Comment
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