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The highlight of last year’s ‘Spring Festival of New Music’, the Kreutzer Quartet returned to the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall last night for a performance that, despite a seemingly eclectic programme, was both exciting and inspiring.
Opening with Luigi Cherubini’s Souvenir de Pierre Baillot, the quartet demonstrated both their cohesiveness as an ensemble, and the rich sonorities of their instruments. Immediately following was British composer David Matthews’ arrangement of JS Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B Minor.
Although an ingenious arrangement, I could not help but feel that the beautiful elegance of the keyboard work was lost in translation, so to speak. Although a matter of stylistic interpretation, I felt the players over-romanticised the work, playing with too much vibrato; preventing Bach’s lyrical lines and sophisticated counterpoint from speaking freely.
Last up in the first half was Quartet no. 5 op. 36 by David Matthews. The composer was present, and introduced his work, composed 25 years previously. Inspired largely by bright sunshine, the work was electrifying in its subtle harmonics, aggressive attacks and hugely energetic rhythmic vitality. It acted as a clear reminder that contemporary repertoire is what the Kreutzer Quartet do best. Energised, spirited, and technically very tight, the Matthews was, for me, the highlight of the night.
The short first half was balanced by Beethoven’s Quartet in B flat op. 130, and the mighty 'Grosse Fuge', op. 131; the intended original ending of the quartet. Despite some moments of poor intonation, this was an excellent interpretation, particularly sensitive in the slow movement: the hushed tones of the Cavatina were expressive and lyrical.
Although disliked at the time of its composition, the Grosse Fuge is now considered one of Beethoven’s greatest achievements. Startling in its aggression and dissonances, the Fuge places extreme technical demands on the performers. The Kreutzer Quartet rose to the challenge, playing with spirit and gusto, delivering an exciting rendition of this incredible tour de force.
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