Dragon Review: Guildford Music Society Piano Recital

Published on: 28 Nov, 2025
Updated on: 28 Nov, 2025

Sarah Beth Briggs gave an excellent recital for the Guildford Music Society at GURC.

By Gillian Lloyd

Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs’ excellent recital for Guildford Music Society at GURC on November 16 was particularly notable for the wonderfully full sound she produced from our venerable Bechstein piano, the huge array of colour and character she found in her delightfully varied programme, and her engaging and informative introductions.

She began with Mozart’s Fantasy in D minor: no pretty-pretty tinkling here, but dark drama in the opening section contrasted with joyously sparkling finger work in the second part.

Schubert’s A Major Sonata D664 continued the happy mood, with some beautiful singing sound especially in the slow movement. Brahms’ Four Piano Pieces op. 119 moved from
wistful falling thirds in the first Intermezzo (reminiscent of gently-falling rain) through lively caprice in the remaining two Intermezzi to defiant storm and stress in the concluding Rhapsodie – Brahms’ last composition for solo piano.

After the interval, we heard Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque, three movements of which recall the music of Rameau and other 18th-century French composers.

Debussy was deeply affected by the poetry of Paul Verlaine, and this influence can be seen in the most famous of the Bergamasque pieces, Clair de Lune.

Two contrasting numbers from Schumann’s Woodland Scenes followed, before Sarah Beth concluded with Mendelssohn’s enormous Variations Sérieuses.

To calm us down after the passion and complexity of these variations, we were treated to Schumann’s exquisite miniature Träumerei from Scenes of Childhood as an encore.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable concert, much appreciated by an enthusiastic audience.

Our next event will be XY Strings’ Carol Evening on December 9, which forms part of the church’s Christmas Tree Festival: then on Sunday, February 8, 2026, distinguished organist Peter Wright returns to play for us once again.