The Edinburgh Quartet, Teesside Music Society – St Bernadette’s Church, Nunthorpe

Frank Harrison, chairman of Teesside Music Society, welcomed a capacity audience with the remark that on 25th January, birthday of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, there could arguably be no better way to celebrate the Bard’s special night than to be in the fortunate position of having an evening of music by the Edinburgh Quartet.

Mr Harrison also welcomed members and friends of Baines Jewitt Solutions, the accountancy firm sponsoring the concert.

The Edinburgh String Quartet has had a phenomenal record of success since its formation in 1960 by Miles Baster on his return from the Juliard School of Music in New York. Originating in Edinburgh University the Quartet quickly became established as one of the most important British ensembles, and in addition now has residencies in the universities of Stirling and Aberdeen.

It has travelled the world, including visits – ‘pioneering expeditions’ – to places where this kind of music has never been experienced before.

The programme at Nunthorpe opened with Haydn’s String Quartet in C minor, Op. 17 no.4, and from the first note we were transfixed! The sheer joy and beauty of the music played with such flawless musicianship was simply spell-binding.

The Quartet have very fine 18th century instruments by Ferdinand Gagliano, Antonio Gragnani, and modern master instrument maker Jacques Camurat, and this without doubt contributes to exceptional tone quality over the entire range of their instruments.

The concert continued with Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in E minor, op. 44 no.2 – written on his honeymoon we were told, and the first movement is appropriately ‘Allegro assai appassionato’! Again, this is a lively, joyful work, the brilliant opening movement being followed by a strongly melodious theme.

After the interval we were treated to Elgar’s String Quartet in E minor, op.83. I have always felt I could identify British music by its characteristics, but this Elgar work does indeed have that unmistakeable sound of European romanticism claimed for it by the viola player Gordon Bragg.

A truly unforgettable concert organised by the Teesside Music Society.

The next concert is on Sunday 8th February in St. Bernadette’s Church, Nunthorpe at 7.15 featuring the guitarist Evangelos Nikoliadis. Tickets from Julia Haigh on 01642 711618.

Irene MacDonald