Music / Across Space and Time, Stuart Long, piano. At Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, March 30. Reviewed by LEN POWER.

Film music is powerful and the music associated with a film that had engaged our emotions remains a much-loved memory for many people. 

Sometimes it seems that a film’s success owes a great deal to its music – think of Psycho, Lawrence of Arabia, Jaws and The Third Man.

Canberra pianist Stuart Long presented a selection of memorable and moving works from films as well as a couple of other timeless masterpieces for solo piano. 

This thoughtful selection took the audience on an emotional journey through space and time.

Stuart Long holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the ANU School of Music. He continued his studies with outstanding musicians including Colin Forbes, Kotaro Nagano and Edward Neeman. He has won various musical prizes and awards and has performed extensively in Australia and NZ.

The concert began with a work by Italian composer, Ludovico Einaldi, known for his music for the popular French film, The Intouchables. The first was the visually engaging Nuovole Bianche (White Clouds). He followed it with Michael Nyman’s evocative and moody Big My Secret from The Piano.

Astor Piazzola’s Invierno Portenõ from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires was next and its passionate driving rhythms were well played by Long. The edgy music from Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalimenti and the contemporary sound in Runaway, by Rap composer, Kanye West, then made a fine contrast.

Erik Satie’s reflective work, Gymnopédie No. 1, was a welcome addition to the program and was given another sensitive performance by Long.

The highly emotional theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams was followed by the beautiful and nostalgic theme from Cinema Paradiso by Ennio and Andrea Morricone.

Philip Glass’ main theme from The Hours followed. It was a work filled with restrained emotion. Next was another moody work from The Piano by Michael Nyman entitled The Heart Asks Pleasure First.

The final work of the program was another by Einaldi, I Giorni (The Days). It was a bright, optimistic but calming work, as nicely played by Long as all of the other works.

For an encore, Long presented Encore Di Lirico by Canberra composer Sally Greenaway. This melodic and appealing work was an inspired choice for this very enjoyable concert.