There has been no shortage of offerings in the winter calendar of the La Jolla Music Society, and their fine programming continued Sunday afternoon with the most recent installment of the “Discovery Series.”
For example, their playing in Arvo Pärt’s massive, sustained chaconne “Fratres” was riveting throughout. Violinist Dalene was masterful in his ability to bring an individual drama to the different registers of his instrument through the changing articulations Pärt sets, voicing lines clearly through clusters of spectral harmonics and gently nudging pianissimo double-stops into motion.
The duo found a compelling unity in moods that change suddenly from majestic to melancholy. Grieg’s piece brings several challenges, first tasking the pianist with negotiating a role which, while technically difficult, is primarily accompanimental. Hong managed to remain just beneath the violin for the entire piece, playing with measured, sculpted control.
The faster, brief third movement features quick interplay between the two instruments and again, the deft, athletic movement between them made the fact that Hong was a substitute pianist all the more remarkable.