Polished playing by string quartet

Press, 23 August 1976, Page 10

Polished playing by string quartet

The Lyric String Quartet — Tony Walton and Jerry Long (violins). Alistair Sands (viola), and Judith Williamcon (cello) —played on Friday afternoon in the State Trinity Centre. Their work was ’ Mendelssohn’s String Quartet, No. 2, and the andante from Haydn's String Quartet. Op. 76 No. 2. Many people attended. The recital had charm and dignity, suited to the music offered, and made a most pleasant interlude in the business of the day.

The Lyric Quartets placing showed meritorious accuracy and sensitive care for the style of the music performed. The players were quick to convey the atmospheres of the various movements of the Mendelssohn work and convincingly entered into the meanings below the surface of all that they did. Clarity of playing, good rhythmL- grip and drive, attention to expression, and careful blending of good tonal qualities were all most pleasing and promising. Above all, there was a freshness and an infectious joy in what they were doing which made the quartet’s concert well worth while.

There was good cohesive playing in the allegro section of the first movement of the Mendelssohn work and smoothness of tone and expressive subtlety in the second. The intermezzo sang pleasingly, and there was flexible touch in the finale. Through good phrasing evert' movement had definite shaping, and tile over-all atmosphere was convincing. This was because the spirit and feeling of one movement was correctly related to those of the others. Thus unity of purpose was achieved. The Haydn movement was played with charm and elegance. Tonal colourings for all instruments were carefully, chosen, and the phras-

ing and expression were stylish. Tony Walton carried the main burden of the movement, playing the florid fi-'i violin pari with flexible b .ace and with excellently, controlled clarity and shaping. There was a most pleasing polish to the perforrnan, r of what was. indeed, a little gem. —C. Foster Browne