Camerata recital

Press, 1 November 1982, Page 6

Camerata recital

Last Recital in the Brahms Piano Quartet series, by the Catnerata Piano Quartet, heH at the Arts Centre on Sunday, October 31. Reviewed by Allan Francis. The momentum of the judicious placing of the progripimeseries starting, in September and finishing yesterday carried right through ft* flair and da*h from the Camerata. Rtmissionwas centred on tMJßrahms quartets but the ajMftional pieces were far from being ‘Tiffins.*’ Indeed, trnfefinal programme incladed the important Beethoittß piano Quartet Op. 16 and the Dohnanyi String Tri& .' bbth entirely compatible with the Brahmsian works which made lip the first half

tet. which breathed the spicy Hungarian flavour of Central Europe without losing sight of its essentially German composition. If any in the audience thought the Brahms had begun with the Dohnanyi they could have been forgiven for the error. The Op. 10 String Trio has often been criticised for being a direct imitation of Brahms’s style, but its author was at his best when,. composingin the Brahms? idiom. The intensely lyrical Romanza, cued by the viola; may not have lopped the list ; of profound compositions it was sheer delight to listen to on a warm Sunday, afternoon. The early Beethoven Quartet Op; 16, an' ambidextrous or recital 2n<| / Wfls stylishly , played by the group. After

the reflective first movement which throughout hints of the composer's later concertos, the delicacy of the ensemble traced even more serious thoughts. '. > . Contrast was provided by the concluding Rondo which was more of an amiable discussion between good friends with various subjects ~ tossed about in good humour, suggesting no lack of original ; ideas. „ ’’ . , With the major work, the Brahms Piano Quartet in G . minor, the strings, as well as the warm-toned piano of lola Shelley, played so well, that was a sense of physical delijht in the music. There was little to suggest the solid German master here, nor the concern of Beethoven’s footsteps close behind. f It was certainly an exhilarating finale to. an exciting, series. - • - ■ ■ -