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8 November 2010
Bring two of our musical jewels, pianist Michael Houstoun and the New Zealand String Quartet together, add a tall, handsome guy on the double bass and you have a stunningly beautiful tiara of sound.
With a chaise longue, some candles and soft drapery, the stage was set for a soiree-like ambience for Schubertiade, Chamber Music New Zealand’s last concert of the year, an all-Schubert programme.
With carefully measured tempo and immaculate unanimity of rubato, the trio comprising Helene Pohl, violin, Rolf Gjelsten, cello and Michael Houstoun, piano, gave an immensely engaging performance of Notturno. So masterly was the placing of every note that even the warm applause at the end fitted the timing perfectly.
The most impressive music and playing in the programme came in the String Quartet in G, a work the NZSQ is to record shortly in Toronto. This is music with many hints of the increased chromaticism and rhythmic complexity to come from later composers.
The frequent use of tremolos and the incredible subtlety of dynamic and rhythmic variety made for dramatic performance and listening. I felt just a tad more assertiveness was needed from the first violin in the impetuously syncopated tarantella flute.
It is amazing how these four players reflect each other’s individual flourishes of interpretation.
Their ensemble awareness has been extremely well honed over the many years they have been together. Their frequent engagements overseas are a testament to their standing on the international chamber music scene.
The Trout Quintet, so-named because of the movement based on the famous song, was a relaxation into more predictable territory, but no less imaginatively played. With Michael Steer commanding the double bass from his great height, the other four players seemed to produce a richer tone to match.
The scherzo was full of gusto – the trout was enjoying a carefree, even frolicsome ride downstream – and the buoyant finale wrapped up with reminders of the earlier movements.
It is interesting to note that the men of the quartet sported some reflection of the ladies’ turquoise skirts on their shirts. We don’t need to be peacocks, but I’m all for better gender balance in the clothing to match the happy equality in the playing.
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