News location:

Canberra Today 15°/19° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Review / A little reserve but lots of promise in quartet’s debut

The debut performance of the Grevillea Quartet. Photo by Peter Hislop

GIVING their debut concert performance, Grevillea Quartet threw themselves straight into the deep end, presenting two major works, one each from two of the most important composers in music history.

Canberrans, Rebecca Lovett (violin), Shilong Ye (violin), Julia Clancy (viola) and Samuel Payne (cello) looked resplendent as they mounted the stage, with Lovett and Clancy in matching floral gowns.

In the opening work, Beethoven’s “String Quartet No 1 in F major” from Op 18, Grevillea had nicely measured tempi, excellent timing and good balance across the ensemble. But overall the playing was withdrawn; there was a sense of reticence, almost uncertainty. A lack of clarity, and occasional pitching problems in the fast-paced passages, particularly in the outer movements, added to the reserve.

The Grevillea Quartet’s debut concert. Photo by Peter Hislop

After a short break, the quartet returned for Felix Mendelssohn’s last important work: his “Quartet No 6 in F minor”, from Op 80. The piece was an homage to his sister, Fanny, who had died suddenly, from a stroke, in May 1847. Mendelssohn was devastated over Fanny’s death, finally writing this piece about four months later, only two months before he, himself, passed away, in November the same year.

Grevillea gave this work a much better performance than the Beethoven; from the very opening, it was obvious they were much more confident. Although the clarity and pitching issues in the fast passages continued in this work, particularly in the final movement, their playing was expressive with, once again, some good control over tempi and ensemble balance. Of special note was their timing, with assured entries and exchanges of melody line throughout.

The third movement of the Mendelssohn, marked “adagio”, was the performance highlight. Grevillea showed a real connection to this movement, with a sensitive and heartfelt interpretation, and beautiful expression.

With their fine sense of balance, timing and expression, Grevillea have the foundation upon which to find and build a sound unique to their ensemble. This quartet is one to watch.

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Music

Cunio takes top job at NZ School of Music

Immediate past head of the ANU School of Music, Kim Cunio, is to become head of school at Te Kōki, the NZ School of Music, part of the Victoria University of Wellington, reports HELEN MUSA.

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews