Archaeus Quartet, Central Hall, Darlington

THIS was the opening concert in Darlington Music Society’s new season which includes an attractive mix of chamber ensembles both by established artists and rising stars.

The season is framed by string quartets, starting with the Archaeus who were originally formed in 1990 and who offered a particularly attractive programme with classics by Mozart and Beethoven framing Barber’s unique quartet.

Unfortunately there was a problem with intonation which not only persisted throughout the evening but actually worsened.

This was surprising and rather disappointing in an intimate chamber group such as this when the players themselves are usually the most critical.

The opening piece, Mozart’s last string quartet, No. 23, K590, is known for favouring the cellist (originally King Frederick William II of Prussia) but that was not evident here in a rather subdued performance though the Archaeus did achieve a satisfying blend of instruments in the Andante.

Samuel Barber’s only String Quartet is best known for its moving Adagio which has achieved a life on its own with Barber’s re-scoring for a larger string ensemble.

The outer movements of the quartet tend to get overlooked but are important as a setting for the moving Adagio which I also enjoy hearing in its sparer form.

The Archaeus rightly viewed it as a whole, giving equal importance to the outer movements and even with a more dissonant performance than usual it was still truly touching.

The society’s next concert by the Albany Piano Trio on Saturday, November 8, will feature music by Haydn, Debussy and Dvorak. Full details at dms.btck.co.uk/ or in leaflets available in libraries.

Peter Bevan