Musical animation
Garth Wilshere
Brentano String Quartet touring for Chamber Music New Zealand, Wellington Town Hall, June 12. Reviewed by Garth Wilshere
THE young American Brentano String Quartet impressed in their previous visit here in 2007, and maintained that impression this time with their musical animation and brilliant performances, especially in their Beethoven which was worth the price of admission on its own.
This late quartet, the String Quartet No.15 in A minor Op 132 was given a rapt, radiant reading by the Brentanos. Their playing in this was elegant and refined with perfect ensemble, but with each player contributing their own personality to the whole. It was an exquisite performance.
After that experience I didn’t need an encore but the strong audience response demanded one, a lovely little Haydn Waltz.
Their programming was a little unusual with their attractive opening set of Four Renaissance selections, arrangements for modern string quartet of two each of pieces by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons. Tuneful and interesting to hear although probably better in a smaller space and as encore rather than opening pieces.
Their Haydn String Quartet in D minor Op. 103 too was classically stylish, and elegant, and very civilised.
The arrangement by leader violinist Mark Steinberg of Haydn’s Chorale: Der Greis, Hob.XXVc:5 was a nice touch as well.
The 21st century work (2009) by American Stephen Hartke, Night Songs for a Desert Flower, in four movements, in style modeled as a book of madrigals made a nice connection to the Renaissance pieces played earlier. It was an interesting and attractive, slightly diffuse work.
THE young American Brentano String Quartet impressed in their previous visit here in 2007, and maintained that impression this time with their musical animation and brilliant performances, especially in their Beethoven which was worth the price of admission on its own.
This late quartet, the String Quartet No.15 in A minor Op 132 was given a rapt, radiant reading by the Brentanos. Their playing in this was elegant and refined with perfect ensemble, but with each player contributing their own personality to the whole. It was an exquisite performance.
After that experience I didn’t need an encore but the strong audience response demanded one, a lovely little Haydn Waltz.
Their programming was a little unusual with their attractive opening set of Four Renaissance selections, arrangements for modern string quartet of two each of pieces by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons. Tuneful and interesting to hear although probably better in a smaller space and as encore rather than opening pieces.
Their Haydn String Quartet in D minor Op. 103 too was classically stylish, and elegant, and very civilised.
The arrangement by leader violinist Mark Steinberg of Haydn’s Chorale: Der Greis, Hob.XXVc:5 was a nice touch as well.
The 21st century work (2009) by American Stephen Hartke, Night Songs for a Desert Flower, in four movements, in style modeled as a book of madrigals made a nice connection to the Renaissance pieces played earlier. It was an interesting and attractive, slightly diffuse work.
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