This evening, Tchaikovsky Competition winner cellist Daniel Veis, together with his wife Helena Veisová gave a world-class concert at the Aula Mgr G. Farrugia, performing works by Couperin, Martinů and Grieg. It was exhilarating and rousing from start to finish, from the delicate Late Baroque/Rococo style of Couperin’s Pièces en concert, to the robust vigour of Martinů’s Sonata no. 3 and on to the explosive Romanticism with the Grieg Sonata in A Minor op. 36.

Daniel and Helena are a formidable duo whose musical, intellectual and emotional rapport is nothing short of brilliant. The sheer power emanating from the cello is just mind-blowing – one wonders how it is, in fact, possible to exude such emotional intensity from the instrument, one that not even a full-blown sound from the concert grand piano could in any way overpower. A true master, Daniel Veis sailed through the pieces, changing style and texture accordingly, all the time superbly supported by Helena at the piano. This was a truly virtuosic yet intellectual performance, one that will remain etched in the memory for a very long time!

The end of the concert and, indeed, every piece performed was greeted by a thundering applause and cries of ‘Bravo’ from the packed concert hall. This was indeed one performance that has the ability to transport from the mundane to the sublime and we look forward to having the Veis Duo with us in many more editions of our Festival!