London Concertante

Reporter: Dr Joe Dawson
Date online: 12 June 2008

Featuring the principal players of 'one of the finest chamber orchestras in the country' this group was able to perform three of the premium gems of the string sextet repertoire.

Adam Summerhayes and Dania Alzapieda - violins; Matthew Quenby and Nick Howson - violas; and Chris Grist and Jon Kitchen - cellos each have creditable individual pedigrees but come together in ensemble playing of the highest order.

Sextet from Capriccio by Richard Strauss.
This unusual overture to an intimate one-act opera is representative of the large-scale composer of Rosenkavalier and Elektra moving towards smaller, more chamber-like forces in his later years. It sets the opening scene of musicians playing in the salon of a chateau - a kind of musical play within the play. The players showed a fine sense of collective interpretation.

Verklarte Nacht (Transfigured Night) Opus 4 Arnold Scoenberg
This was a rare opportunity to hear Schoenberg's original early composition - the later string orchestra version he made is much better known. Another 'music drama' with a strong story line it benefits from reading the original poem of inspiration that was printed in the programme.

String Sextet No 2 in G Opus 36 by Johannes Brahms
Although the composer described the work as 'gay in character' to his publisher, most people would not use that description. It is more relaxed and middle of the road than much other Brahms, who enjoys extremes of tempo and mood in his chamber music. Though this evening's performance was certainly not staid. Here again was superb music making.

But it was in the encore that they really let their hair down. 'Five naked ladybirds' was composed by the first violinist, who featured as soloist. Its gypsy Czardas come Argentinian Tango was full of life, wit and vigour.

Rare to hear chamber music of this calibre at a live session - partly because these players have individual careers to pursue and partly because it is difficult to programme such specialist repertoire apart from a large festival.

Thanks to the indefatigable work of the Music Society we had this in Rochdale.

London Concertante
Rochdale Music Society
Gracie Fields Theatre
19 October 2002