Josef  Špaček (violin) and Michael Houstoun (piano), Wellington Town Hall 5 July reviewed by Garth Wilshere.

THE brilliant 23 year old Czech violinist Josef Špaček who won the Michael Hill International Violin Competition last year performed with the Auckland Philharmonia as part of his prize, and has been touring the country for Chamber Music New Zealand.
He instantly demonstrated why he was the winner in this stunning, musically mature set of performances. He has impeccable technique and natural musicality.
For the tour he had prepared two programmes as well as the concerto with orchestra.
He was also lucky to have the masterful, Michael Houstoun on piano to accompany him, and especially to help guide him in the big Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano in C minor Op. 30 No. 2.
Here Špaček’s violin truly sung and soared with Houstoun’s wonderful, driving piano making this very a special performance.
This programme that had refreshing repertoire in Martinč’s intriguing Violin Sonata No.1, with its witty 1920s jazz-inspired sound palette, reflecting on the composer’s time in Paris. The piece requires understanding of the style of the period caught beautifully by both players.
And in the Janáček Sonata for violin and piano the sweet tone of the violin and beautiful writing and mood were ideally captured, violin and piano in perfect accord.
Having recorded the Ysaÿe Sonatas for solo violin we were treated to No. 6 in the set, in an electrifying feat of natural virtuosity.
The enthusiastic and warm applause brought us his charm and wit as he introduced, in great American-accented English his Vieuxtemp’s encore, of Variations based on Yankee Doodle Dandy. A marvellous concert.