Last night Hassan, Scott and I attended a concert at the Hornby Island Community Hall: Musical Antidote to Dark and Dreary Evenings presents Kiiri Michelsen (soprano) and Frank G. Chu (piano).

The programme kicked off with some slow but mirthful tunes by Gabriel Faure, followed by a rather speedy, and somewhat patchy, Impromptu in E flat, op. 90, no. 2 by Schubert. While Michelsen seemed intent on giving Hornby’s little hall the full force of her voice, Chu appeared hesitant, as if taking a breath before each charge up the island’s recently purchased grand piano.

Debussy’s Ballade (1906) calmed things down before the duo launched into what sounded for the most part like early Schonberg, particularly Waldsonne from Vier Lieder, op. 2.

After a 20 minute intermission (tea and cakes) we returned for a robust set of Brahms (Zwei Rhapsodien, op. 79) and, finally, four songs by Grieg (Veslemoy, Blabaer-Li, Med en primula veris and Varen) to take us out of winter.

A romantic evening, one very much appreciated by the 40-plus members of the audience, most of whom reflected the island's aging population.