Music / “Four-Hands Piano Concert”, Jennifer Hou and Aaron Chew. At Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, September 10. Reviewed by LEN POWER.

A FOUR-hands piano concert featuring works by Claude Debussy, Aristea Melos, WA Mozart and Franz Schubert in the capable hands of pianists Jennifer Hou and Aaron Chew attracted quite a large audience.

It was treated to a memorable concert of appealing works played by these fine musicians.

Jennifer Hou is a solo and collaborative pianist based in Sydney and Canberra and Aaron Chew is a recent PhD graduate from the ANU School of Music. 

Debussy’s “Six epigraphes antiques” from 1914 was the first work played in this concert. It was originally written for a piano duo. 

These atmospheric pieces were given a sensitive performance by the players, bringing out the haunting, mysterious qualities in Debussy’s music. “For the Egyptian woman” and “To thank the morning rain” were especially memorable.

The “Immigrant Suite” by the Greek-Australian composer, Aristea Mellos, was a delightful inclusion in the program. The work evoked aspects of her grandmother’s migration to Australia, her subsequently long working life and eventual retirement in Greece. 

The players brought out all the colour and atmosphere of a life in both countries with their fine playing.

After interval, the Sonata in D major K. 381 by Mozart and the Fantasie in F minor, D.940, Op.103 by Franz Schubert were performed. These contrasting works, the Mozart bright and busy and the Schubert haunting and melodic, were good showcases for the abilities of these two superb artists.

They alternated between upper and lower parts on the piano for the four works. In addition, their spoken introductions to the works were informative and delivered in a warm and friendly manner.