Gary Arbuthnot is a young Northern Irish flautist with an impressive string of prizes and awards to his credit. His recital at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre on Tuesday evening quickly established the basis for his success: easy delivery, strong tone (at times remarkably akin to one of his teachers, James Galway), and a clear relish in the florid writing which the flute has encouraged from so many composers.
The potential in this young performer's playing is clear. But so are the limitations. There's little real tonal or stylistic variety. From Bach to Philip Hammond, ranging through Mozart, Schubert and sweet or showy concoctions by Saint-Saens, Gaubert and Borne, the music on offer was treated with a dulling consistency of approach. Think of Sean Connery's scarcely wavering accent, but subtract the individuality of character, and you'll be on the right track.
His partner, Simon Crawford-Phillips (who had to yield most of his tunes to the flute in a re-written version of Mozart's juvenile Sonata in C, K14) showed rather more concern with details of musical characterisation. Both players will be heard again shortly, at the Hugh Lane Gallery on May 2nd, in a programme of Berio, Takemitsu and Sally Beamish that will make very different demands on their talent.
