Royal Northern Sinfonia Chamber Ensemble, The Witham, Barnard Castle

THIS latest appearance by a string quartet drawn from the Royal Northern Sinfonia attracted a very good audience.

This time the line-up was Sarah Roberts and Jonathan Martindale violins, James Slater viola and Daniel Hammersley cello, performing in front of the stage with the audience in raked seating.

This closeness, even with stage curtains behind, seemed to me to enhance the sound and experience considerably.

They opened with Haydn’s Lark Quartet with the first violin’s opening melody, which gives it its nickname, beautifully played with a rich deeper tone, and some very nimble playing in the finale.

Kodaly’s Duo for Violin and cello, Op. 7, written in 1914, was unfamiliar and after the classicism of the Haydn it took me some time to adjust to the varied rhythms

As is often the case, it was the slow movement which drew me in with some fascinating story-telling by the two players who often seemed to be performing independently before coming together now and again.

Beethoven’s Op. 74 Quartet followed after the break beginning with a very slow and measured Poco adagio.

There was a welcome sense of unanimity from the players regarding both tempo and balance with all four capable of remarkable delicacy which they also sustained in the peaceful Adagio with a finely poised hush at its conclusion.

The next concert in this series on Friday, January 9, will include music by Haydn, Moeran and Debussy. Box office 01833 631107, or info@thewitham.org.uk.

Peter Bevan