Pianist Margaret Lion was born and educated in Dunedin, graduating from University of Otago "many years ago".
She is visiting Dunedin, taking a short break from a busy London-based life of music, and yesterday gave a pianoforte recital in the showcase series of Marama Hall Wednesday lunchtime concerts.
Opening her programme with Rondo in A minor K 511 , by Mozart, Lion delivered, with appropriate classical simplicity and clarity, precise ornamentation with a judicious pedal rounding tone colour.
Landscape Prelude (2007), one of 12 in a series by New Zealand composer Jenny McLeod, was imbued with the spirit of the West Coast of this country on a still day. I really enjoyed this short work through Lion's stunning interpretation of the composer's rich musical canvas.
The main work was Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, by Brahms, written as a birthday present for pianist Clara Schumann. Twenty-five variations in all and a final monumental fugue incorporated every style of writing for keyboard.
Lion performed all from memory, favouring a more classical delivery in a lean towards Handel and his period, rather than the Romantic kaleidoscopic palate normally associated with the music of Brahms.
Each work was charmingly and informatively introduced to the reasonably large lunchtime audience by the performer.
