William Harvey, violin
Sylvia Patterson-Scott, piano

Four stars

Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis; May 20

After hearing William Harvey play a few months ago, I was keen on listening to him again, especially since this was a benefit for Music for the People. Harvey started this organization in the hopes of promoting cultural understanding through music, and has traveled, along with many other musicians, to quite a few countries doing just that. Before traveling to the next MFTP project though, Harvey decided to stop in his hometown to play a thoroughly intense Elgar violin concerto, and a Jascha Heifetz arrangement of selections from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Supposedly Elgar said of his work, “It’s good! Awfully emotional! Too emotional, but I love it!” Indeed, this work is emotional, spanning many different moods, and Harvey was sensitive to them all, as was pianist Sylvia Patterson-Scott, with her fine ensemble playing. The fiery third movement was especially good, with the violin combining pyrotechnics and musicality. The Gershwin was also a hit, with its blue/jazz feel and swaggering rhythms. Interested in learning more about Harvey and his organization? Visit www.musicforthepeople.org.