UNIVERSITY CONCERT

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 5

UNIVERSITY CONCERT

Czech String Quartet The Czech String Quartet of the University of Canterbury Messrs Stefan Czapary, Rudolf Kalup, Jaroslav Karlovsky and Zdenek Konicek played Haydn’s Quartet Ops 20 No. 5 and Hindemith’s Third Quartet Op. 22 in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre at Ham yesterday afternoon.

The acoustic properties of this theatre are drier than those of the University Hall. This gives perfect clarity but it prevents the tone from soaring through the building with rounded resonance.

The first movement and the minuet of the Haydn quartet had suave dignity and enlivening grace. The blending, too, was seemingly perfect, with never a sound which did not make its exact and full contribution. The slow movement was appealing in its simplicity and sympathy, and the finale had fine and radiant shafts of melody.' " The Hindemith quartet began with wispy sounds joining in challenging dissonance, rising in powerful surges, and then sinking back into meditation strengthened by disciplined form and rhythm.

The prevailing spirit of the work was gentle and consolatory, and it was played with wonderful control of sound. Excitement and challenge came forcefully towards the end as the music became somewhat more angular in shape and inflexible in messages. The playing had impeccable style and artistry.—C.F.B.