Festival Theatre, Malvern – 30th November 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
Any excuse to hear String Quartets live and I’m there. Any excuse to visit the wonderful Malvern Theatres and I’m also there. So tonight, with all that and the addition of a Piano Quintet, was like Christmas coming early!
From the very first notes it was evident that the Chiaroscuro Quartet are a class act. Clean, precise playing and the almost dance like quality to the performance – the first half standing with performers swaying with the music was a delight. Their range of dynamics and expressiveness was extraordinary – from full bodied to almost silent, ethereal held notes. Impressive. I also really loved their eye contact which showed an intimate connection to each other.
Tonight’s first piece was Haydn’s Quartet Op9 no 4 in D minor, the ladies giving us a passionate reading which definitely benefited from the use of the gut strings and historical bows which they use. Our first violinist, Alina Ibragimova, dazzled with some high, florid runs in the first movement. An emotional slow movement led to the final one in which I appreciated seeing (as well as hearing) the tune going around the ensemble; giving the players the chance to wow us with their forensic timing.
The second piece was Beethoven’s Op 59 No 2 Quartet in Eminor. The sheer power that the Quartet managed to achieve with wonderful, tight, dramatic, chordal work, really digging into the strings in the opening movement was inspiring. I really loved Claire Thirion (cellist) repeated figures that set the other musicians off – like winding up a spinning top… The filigree passages shared between musicians were exceptionally precise, giving the work a clarity that only players of the highest caliber could achieve. The second movement gave us some lovely melodious, stratospheric first violin playing against the sustained chords from the supporting trio. Beautiful! The end movement’s tripping figures were rather playful and our musicians attacked these with admirable enthusiasm and energy, culminating in the piece hurtling towards a breathless finish and a crowd about to get sore hands from clapping!
After the break was Brahms Piano Quintet op 34 in F minor. The piano’s owner, Peter Salisbury, gave us a very interesting talk about about tonight’s Bechstein piano, tuned down from A440 to A435 – as were the strings to match. This gave the Brahms added poignancy and a slightly darker edge.
Pianist Cédric Tiberghien gave us a performance that was muscular yet tender with plenty of rubato to stretch the phrases and add drama – everything you could want in a romantic work! I was also very taken with Brahms use of pizzicato passages. The violist’s (Emilie Hornlund) tone was sheer perfection and her ensemble work with the other players was sumptuous. The lady playing 2nd violin deserves special mention as she was spellbinding throughout and I could barely take my eyes of her (her facial expressions in response to the music were almost like acting!) – unfortunately the brochure I had didn’t give her name (it had a gentleman listed).
Spectacular music presented from world class performers. The musical stars really came out tonight in Malvern, far surpassing top marks. I can’t wait for the next concert in the series, nor seeing tonight’s musicians again.