Music ‘by two’, vocalists or instrumentalists, or ‘for two’, or ‘about two’, is a novel idea for a recital, and Ken and Gwyneth Adshead presenting “T for Two” at Ramsbottom together, continued that theme. The results were remarkable.

Gwyneth’s opening with Adam and Eve singing together (Elisabeth Grummer and Gottlieb Frick) in the duet from Pt. 3 of Haydn’s ‘Creation’, and followed by Ken giving the Turkish Pekinel Sisters playing Bach’s Concerto for Two Keyboards in C minor, set the level of inspirational offerings for the evening.

Seventeen individual pieces were played, but in particular, the audience will not forget the ‘Pa-Papagena Duet’ from Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, (Lisa Otto and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) ; ‘Shenandoah’, the tale of a roving trader who intends to take away the daughter of an Indian Chief, sung by Bryn Terfel, with an obligato by Neil Martin on the pipes ; and almost inevitably, Bizet’s ‘Pearl Fishers’ Duet sung by Jussi Bjorling and Robert Merrill.

The entertainment level never ceased, including such as Humperdinck’s ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Dance Duet ; Glinka’s Dance for Oboe, Cello, and Orchestra ; the fairies’ duet from Mendelssohn’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ ; Fernando Sor’s “L’encouragement: Fantasie” for two guitars ; and an astonishing collaboration between piano duet specialists Peter Rostal and Paul Schaefer, and John Rutter who they called in to complete the work, ‘Concerto for two Pianos’.

A surprising duet combination began the second half, with country & western singer John Denver’s ‘Perhaps Love’ – his duet partner being Placido Domingo ; then the Allegro from Vivaldi’s ‘Concerto for two Mandolins’ in G major : two lutes (Dupre/Spencer) playing Dowland’s ‘My Lord Chamberlain’s Gailliard’ and recorder and lute (Munro/ Dupre) in Nicholson’s ‘The Jew’s Dance’.

Two Schubert songs by Felicity Lott and accompanist Graham Johnson ‘Der Musensohn’, and ‘An der Musik’ ; Haydn’s ‘Concerto for Two Horns’ ; arrangement for flute and harp of ‘Pavane for a Dead Infanta’ by Ravel followed, and the unforgettable conclusion was provided by the ‘Pas de Deux’ from Tchaikovsky’s ballet, ‘The Nutcracker’.

At the next meeting, on March 1st, Jim Hopkinson will present ‘Canau Cymru’.

For information telephone Richard Hall on 01706 823490.

R.A.H.