"... played with consummate artistry....Definitely different."

In the world we live in, many consider classical music to be élitist. Given this sad fact, more and more classical musicians are anxious to present programmes in a format likely to woo those who are normally reluctant to go and hear live classical music. Whether or not this was the motivation for ‘Downside Up’, this unusual duo of Corinne Frost and Stephen Warner certainly breaks any conventional mould in bringing to the public what the two of them describe as “an eclectic mix of music”.

Their very different musical backgrounds certainly lend themselves to this. Corinne has been cellist with major orchestras, including the Philharmonia and CBSO, and has had a substantial and varied chamber career. Stephen, on the other hand, has played double bass with such orchestras as the RPO ‘Pops’ Orchestra and London Gala Orchestra alongside ongoing orchestral experience in around 30 West End shows.

This afternoon concert was in a lovely large house, Harborough Bank, in the delightful Worcestershire village of Shelsley Beauchamp. In a spread of pieces from the Baroque to the 20th Century, all played with consummate artistry, mention might particularly be made of those two contrasting musical characterisations, The Swan and The Elephant from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, and an exciting arrangement from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. For further variety, Corinne also demonstrated her ability on the piano, Stephen his on the guitar while, at one stage, they put their instruments aside altogether to bring an extraordinary virtuosic clapping duet! Words also featured prominently in the form of some fascinating and at times witty background to the music they played, including reference to films that inspired some of it. Definitely different!