The Montagu Music Society Piano Recital | A ‘Jane Austen’ Moment

Experience a magical ‘Jane Austen’ moment in Montagu as world-renowned pianist, Gustavo Romero, transforms the historic mission church into an intimate Regency-style chamber music drawing room, enchanting the audience with the timeless musical brilliance of Scarlatti, Schumann, Ravel, and Chopin.

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According to Jane Austen, "Every neighbourhood should have a lady playing the pianoforte with a great deal of taste and a great deal of delicacy." If there was ever a picture of refined domestic life in Regency England, or a nod to the Post-Edwardian ‘upstairs’ of Downton Abbey, it would be a chamber music concert. In this case, the setting was an historic Mission Church in Montagu; a small Klein Karoo town on Route 62. The lady in question was replaced by Gustavo Romero, a Mexican-American musician dubbed a ‘pianist of genius’ by the Washington Post.

Thanks to the Montagu Music Society, our little ‘Victorian neighbourhood’ happened to be on his radar, and although the parlour chairs and butlers were missing, there were ladies with fans and glasses of sparkling wine. Beautifully grand in its authentic vernacular simplicity - and with a social backstory of its time - The Old Mission Church (including its own cultured cat joining Gustavo on stage at one point), was the perfect intimate ‘drawing room’ venue for a piano recital of note (pun intended). 

As Gustavo's fingers began magically flying across the keys with breathtaking skill, there was a hushed reverence in the audience for such talent, and a true appreciation for the genius of the master composers, Scarlatti, Schumann, Ravel and Chopin. 

Even Mr Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine De Bourgh - with her acerbic tongue - would have been impressed. “If you are speaking of music...it is of all subjects my delight. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.”

The rest of us, I am assuming, identify with Elizabeth Bennet: “My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I would not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of superior execution.”

But even if you have no classical music training and are a 'philistine' when it comes to playing any instrument, you couldn’t help but be moved and stirred by such a wonderful display of Gustavo’s passionate piano playing. 

I wish I had the eloquence to summarise the evening's experience, but the  New York Times got there first: "Mr. Romero has great agility, adequate power and an unusually large repertory of colors and dynamic levels. More important, these virtues evoked a sense of the music at hand rather than mere piano techniques" 

This repertoire of colours and dynamic levels was illustrated in the specific programme selection: 

• 3 Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) composed for his pupil,  Princess Maria Barbara,  who became the Queen of Spain. 

• 8 Fantasy-like pieces composed by Robert Schumann (1810-1856). inspired by a fictional musician created by Eta Hoffmann. 

• 2 Movements by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937).

• 4 Ballads by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849).

Gustavo Romero’s 2-hour classical piano recital one Saturday evening was more than just a musical event, it was a transcendent musical journey through time that left the small gathering of Montagu locals mesmerised and wanting more. 

And, just for a spoil, our humble gathering did get more. The encore - Chopin’s fast-paced and lively 'Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major' - had us closing our eyes, tapping our feet, and conjuring up Georgian ladies being spun and twirled by gentlemen across the floors of grand ballrooms. 

As the last note was played, and reality beckoned, Gustavo received an enthusiastic and much-deserved standing ovation. 

There's no doubt that in Jane Austen’s novels, the pianoforte was used as an integral plot device and central to the interactions between characters. As we left the building after our own ‘chamber music’ piano recital on Saturday evening, I have to agree with Jane’s Emma that, “without music, life would be a blank to me.” 

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Written by Leanne Johnson