Forum Theatre, Malvern – 11th April 2024
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
I’d never experienced the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam before so didn’t know what a treat I’d been missing. After tonight’s thrilling concert I now know and will try not to miss them ever again.
The introductions were informative, genuinely interesting and humorous and added enormously to the evening. Through them we learnt about the instruments being used and also lots of background on the artists and selected works. We also discovered the group’s immense humour and mission.
First up, Mozart’s last String Quartet No.23 in F (1790) giving the Dudok’s the opportunity to wow us with their crisp phrasing through the work’s flowing melismatic lines coupled with tight tutti chords! The gorgeous second movement really stood out as did the final movement’s gravity defying semiquaver runs. The quartet’s reading favoured, I felt, the Romantic side (rather than the Classical) and was a revelation as it gave the piece a lushness and space to breathe, shedding new light on this popular work.
Watching the quartet’s attentiveness to each other was a masterclass in chamber ensemble playing. It was a revelation to see how the band engaged with the audience, often directly facing us and making eye contact meaning we felt as much a part of this intimate musical dialogue as they were. It wasn’t just us watching the band, it was everyone in the room being fully immersed and engrossed in the music.
The second work brought us right up to date with Joey Roukens “What Remains” (2019). The title of the first movement, “Strange Oscillations”, was a perfect description with beautiful minimalist architecture and some lovely crunchy chords. The quartet stayed laser focused through the myriad of techniques demanded upon them. A quiet intensity suffuses this work, ranging from spine tingling, almost imperceptible notes to ethereal glissandi evoking glacial landslides. I found the slow movement rather effecting, with some delicious ghostly effects. A lovely contrast with the other pieces in the programme and a very welcome addition – especially when we were told that tonight was the works English premiere!
After the interval we had one heavyweight piece; Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No.3 in E flat minor (1876). A serious work with gravitas and a very emotional core – especially in the funereal third movement as it was written in memory of the composer’s lost friend. But the moment that blew me away was hearing the first bars of the second movement where the melody is spread across the players from first violin to second violin (Judith van Driel and Marleen Wester respectively) to viola (Marie-Louise de Jong) and cello (David Faber) – the timing was sheer perfection; it was worth coming just for those few bars alone!
Rapturous ovations were rewarded with an extra piece: Tchaikovsky’s “March” from The Seasons in a fabulous transcription by cellist David. And that wasn’t all – we were given freebies and got to thank the group in person!
A sensational evening of classical masterpieces old and new played by a vivacious, thoroughly engaging quartet on sparkling form, it was everything wonderful about String Quartets and music in general. The quartet’s flawless playing was a joy to behold. I can’t wait for the next Malvern concert and (hopefully) the rapid return of the Dudok Quartet.