Unmissable Talents

An array of artists at London's Wigmore Hall,
reviewed by BILL NEWMAN

Doric Quartet,
Wednesday 24 February 2011

The epitome of great playing and interpretation. The last of Haydn's 'Sun' Quartets [Quartet in A, Op 20 No 6], full of novel ideas, whimsicality and professional know how; Mendelssohn [Quartet in E flat, Op 44 No 3], at the peak of instrumental genius with a profusion of ideas, colours and key changes, and lastly Berg [Lyric Suite], at his most concentrated and diverse in six movement format -- starting in obtuse vein and finishing with a low down motif for string solo. In between, comes every complex, diffuse set of ideas imaginable -- the last word in individual movement markings sets the scene: giovale, amoroso, misterioso, appassionato, delicando, desolato. Wow!

Wihan Quartet
Sunday 6 March and Tuesday 8 March 2011

The Wihan Quartet have now taken over the mantle of Czech String Quartet Supreme from their predecessors, the older Smetana Quartet...

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