The need to hear the Ravel string quartet meant the Tuesday night concert, and I ended up with the front-of-the-bus seat in the upper wings. That's ok, thought I, I haven't had that seat before, I believe in the Recital Centre, and it is my duty to try this seat and report on the experience to the world in general. I'd also always wanted to see the Takacs Quartet from above (hadn't I?).
Walking out into the upper wings was dizzying at first but ended up being just fine, good in fact, even if the rows of stage lights were at eye level, just over there.
I was interested to see the green blinds down quite a long way and took this to mean that a lot of care had been taken with setting up, and working with, the acoustic for this performance. The sound was indeed excellent...of course that was to be expected from a bunch of musos who have been at their craft together for many, many years.
Could these musicians actually be capable of a bad performance? Could anyone ever write a bad review of them? I really doubt it.
One could try calling them a well oiled machine, or use some culinary analogy of flavours mixed to perfection......but to be honest they were far more than any of those things. They were simply a superb group of musicians who knew and loved what they were doing.
Before interval we heard Janacek and Britten, after interval Gordon Kerry and Ravel. Mid winter in Melbourne certainly brought out ripe, fruity coughing in abundance from the audience - not a problem for this combination of brilliant composers and talented interpreters. The coughs were soothed to a charmed silence by the magic of the quartet. Indeed, I doubt I have heard the Hall more reverently silent, though I do recall a similar experience with a String Quartet. Thanks to Musica Viva for checking the archives to confirm my memories of the Carmina Quartet in the Melbourne Concert Hall in September 1989, a group who also mesmerised the audience, on that occasion playing Bartok.
Listening to the Takacs Quartet reminded me of how different string quartets can sound when compared with each other ... and how much I noticed this during the Melbourne International Chamber music Competition last year. The Takacs Quartet also showed just how varied the sound coming from one group of four people can be. Balance is everything, and that is something which really only comes from playing together for a long period of time.
Of course, apart from overall balance, each member of the quartet had moments to shine, and shine they did. We don't get many opportunities to learn to love the viola and the middle range in which it lives. I need to thank the viola player of the Takacs for allowing me to hear, and understand and love, the instrument a little more. I don't need to dissect the pieces on the program. It was all brilliant music beautifully played. The program notes were excellent and I must congratulate Musica Viva on the continuing support they give to Australian composers (I wish we had heard more from Gordon Kerry). I'd enjoyed hearing Gordon Kerry interviewed on the radio about being part of the Takacs tour. I had hoped that Musica Viva might do the "meet the artists" thing as done with the Eggner Trio and composer Ian Munro.
Re-reading the program notes, it is tempting to hear the other program of Janacek, Britten, Kerry and Debussy, on next Saturday night.
Tuesday's concert was an intense experience of complexity and wide ranging emotions. At the end I felt very grateful, and thankful, for the composers, and the inspiring and hard working performers whose artistry brought this amazing music to life. (and thankful for the audience who support the concerts...and Musica Viva... and the Recital Centre for being a beautiful place...is there anyone else I need to thank?)
Sometimes, human beings are capable of truly great things.
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| Melbourne, circa 1957 |
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