To paraphrase Dr. Seuss, “To think I heard it on Howard Street!” I never expected to hear Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen played in the Music in Landrum concerts, since I never got to hear it other than recordings before! Sure, I got to hear Heifetz, Milstein, Menuhin, even Perlman live, but they played Concerti with orchestra . . . and none offered it as an encore.

Same goes for the wonderful Franck Sonata, can’t remember hearing that live, either. Not true any longer. Filip Pogády played them as well as Saint-Saens’ Havanaise for an enthusiastic audience that filled the Landrum United Methodist Church sanctuary. I was also happy to see that pianist Fabio Parrini played with the piano’s lid up fully.

It would not be fair to muffle the sound of the equal partner’s instrument in the Sonata, but they left it up for the accompaniment to the shorter pieces. Parrini controlled the volume quite well, and I reveled in the full-bodied sound from that Boston grand. I also reveled in similar full tones that Pogády drew from the Gagliano violin. I generally like the “big” tone from Guarnerius violins better than the “sweet” tone of the Stradivari.

We gave them standing ovations after each piece. I bet they would have received them in New York, too. We ain’t exactly hicks down here!

Garland Goodwin, Columbus, N.C.