Another Performance Of Quality By Quartet

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 14

Another Performance Of Quality By Quartet

The Prague Quartet of the University of Canterbury continued its wonderful performances of the Beethoven String Quartets in the University

Hall last evening. The Quartet in D major, Op. 18, No. 3 began with pastoral music played gently and with fast flow. The first movement made a fitting prelude to an evening's magnificent enjoy-J ment. Immaculate phrasing, 1 unfailing precision, and balance proceeding from unanimity of thought concerning every small point of timbre and dynamics, made the playing a complete joy. The slow movement had i quiet and vibrantly rich * sounds spreading warmth and ■ geniality, and the scherzo hadj an urbane smoothness and’ dignity. The last movement; was a freshet in fast-moving | and graceful lines. This was followed by the Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4 which opened with intensity of feeling and developed into an amicable and thoughtful discussion among friends. This was music more closely woven and more highly coloured than was heard in the D major work, and the members of the Prague Quartet found and brought forth its meaning with expressive insight. The second movement began with a playful fugato exposition, wtih a light tingle in tone and atmosphere, and continued merrily leading to a bubbling overflow of good spirits in the minuet. The last movement was happy and of intense feeling like the first movement but there was a quizzical humour also which was charmingly brought out with facility. Both quartets were played with captivating spontaneity and were received with the warmest acclamation.

! The great work of the evening was the Quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 131, one of the most deeply moving of all compositions. The opening fugue was played with a ser-

enity that suggested the slow unfolding of great doors to reveal riches beyond the imagining. Such music—and I such playing—carries a listener with a gentle soaring to ’ realms where ordinary values take on new meanings entirely in a way that can only be experienced but not adequately described. The following sections suggested a flight to the threshold of the sublime movement of variations, about which many a long book could be written and then would leave so much that only the music itself can say in fulfilment. The players brought Beethoven’s elusive message right into the hall with all its mystic grandeur and solemnity and gave the audience an experience not to be captured at second hand. Had the Prague Quartet played us nothing but this work, their stay among us would have been something to remember with warm gratitude. The presto movement had scintillating grace and poise throwing off shafts of sunshine. Idyllic peace returned in the adagio and then the finale rushed on in furious array. The playing of this work was a glorious tour de force in every way. —C.F.B.

Increased Aid.—The world’s 1 rich nations last year increased their total aid for | developing countries to '10,979 million dollars, it was announced in Washington by i the Development Assistance of the Organisation for Economic Co-opera- ‘ tion and Development.— Washington July 22.