Perth Chamber Music started its 76th Season with what, at the moment, I think was the best Quartet concert I have ever heard. This is the Marmen String Quartet. It shows the quality of Perth Chamber Music’s six concert season in inviting these widely travelled (Australia and USA) winners of international competitions (France and Canada) to Perth.
They began with Haydn’s Quartet in E Flat Op.33 No.2 “Joke”. Their performance brought out his genius and wit throughout: from the companionable, intimate start, flexible, smiles and mock seriousness, evoking quartet parties where Haydn and Mozart had played. Their Minuet was spirited with openly humorous glissandi in the Trio. The slow movement had serenity and lustre. Here the St John’s Kirk acoustic added its glow to the resonance of sf chords. In the Finale their timing and pauses, and a suave slower section, gave pleasure throughout.
The very different sound world of Bartók in his Third Quartet was played with equal, convincing belief. They had sonorous vigour, perfect co-ordination and impeccable technique. Their playing went from whispers to terrific ferocity. Their sul ponticello was chilling and leader Johannes Marmen particularly passionate in the final section.
Ravel’s glorious, sensitive Quartet ended the printed programme: his intricate precision was there with feeling, individual, yet so together as though one person on one instrument. And again, with each note thought through and placed, yet with spontaneity. They had colour and refinement and expressive intensity bringing out Ravel’s unique, brilliant sonorities – their pizzicato second movement was a tour de force, with fineness and warmth in its Trio; beauteous viola playing, Bryony Gibson-Cornish, here. Daring, magical playing was at the heart of the slow movement, the work ending with vivid energy and pinpoint detail in exciting sound.
Applauded to the echo they gave the Minuet from Mozart’s Quartet K465 as encore – genius and subtlety personified.
Ian Stuart-Hunter