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27 October 2011
The Wellington chamber music group ‘Felix the Quartet’ made a big impression at the Concert Chamber on Wednesday evening (26 October). Drawn from leading members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Felix’s players proved to have exceptional ensemble and musical insight. Named after a favourite coffee shop, their performances had much in common with a fine cup of coffee: rich, stimulating and pungent. When faced with a programme of three challenging works, there was a rare understanding and balance between the players, and their string tone, whether silky, edgy or tremulous, was always superb. ‘A Cool Wind’ by the New Zealand composer John Psathas seemed to be made up of delicate and distinct musical elements, but Felix brought them together nicely and into a fulfilling form. Poles apart was the meaty Beethoven’s Quartet Op 59 No. 1. Felix provided all the depth it needed as well as subtle shading and pointed contrasts. In Sibelius’s ‘Intimate Voices’ quartet there were echoes of Psathas’s piece; both are thought-provoking and evocative, and both got such satisfying performances. The finale was a wonder, with playing that was so skittish and lightly done, yet it yielded a convincing climax.