Westmorland Gazette, January 2011
“Beatson and Barralet wow Kendal Midday Music audience KMCC added yet another resoundingly successful recital to its seemingly inexhaustible list of such occasions. James Barralet, a fine young cellist, and his equally fine (and young!) pianist partner, Alasdair Beatson, delighted and wowed the Kendal Town Hall punters with their sheer dexterity and musicianship in their programme of Cello Sonatas by Mendelssohn (in D, Op.58) and Rachmaninov (in G minor, Op.19).
Both these sonatas were ideally-suited to the type of instrumentalists who graced the stage for this recital – on the one hand, energetic, ebullient and technically brilliant; on the other, elegant, soulful, richly-romantic with lavish supplies of melodic and textural beauty.
It was obvious that there was utter rapport between the two. Their ensemble work was impeccable, their phrasing immaculate, their dynamic contrasts were impressive and they understood exactly the nature of the varying demands imposed upon them by the two pieces.
A charming arrangement by James Barralet of a Cumbrian folk song, Sally Gray, ended the concert.”
Westmorland Gazette, January 2011
