Claire’s clarinet was classical

Since classical music is not just some populist blurb, Claire Hawkes from the Royal College of Music, London, came silently to the Lion Centre at Sheraton Kampala Hotel recently, and just conquered us with the melodious sound of her clarinet.
For the very informed in classical music, the compositions did not need any introductions. But Hawkes’ performance showed that she felt “in touch with the composers”. She played Brahm’s sonata in E major with feeling. The audience could see she was connected to the music.
Ruth Makumbi, a voice teacher at the Kampala Music School (KMS), did her bit well when she sang Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock. Even though most of the lyrics were in a foreign language, she took us right there with the expressions on her face. The soulful pastoral piece gave one the feeling of taking a light flight up a giant rock while the world beneath passed away.
Hawkes was impressively expressive for most of the recital. But it was thumps up for her skill on Bela Kovacs’ Spanish composition, Hommage a Manuel de Falla.
With KMS teachers Paul Luggya and Fred Kiggundu accompanying Hawkes on piano, it was no surprise when an overjoyed Hawkes wondered, “What talent we have here!”
Ends