Rochdale Music Society Concert - Zelkova String Quartet

Zelkova String Quartet

It was a privilege to be a member of the audience in Heywood Civic Centre for the Rochdale Music Society concert at which the Zelkova String Quartet - Caroline Pether (violin 1), Ed Pether (violin 2), Alistair Vennart (viola) and Jonathan Pether (cello) - excelled in performing three masterpieces of the genre.

In what was a striking musical sequence of rising emotional intensity they carried their listeners along from the heart-warming atmosphere of Mozart’s ‘Hunty’ Quartet through the comparatively challenging tensions of Mendelssohn’s E minor Quartet Op. 44 No. 2 to the emotional outbursts of Dvorak’s Op.106.

Mozart’s ‘Hunt’ Quartet in B flat, given its nickname from the hunting horn-like sound of the opening of the first movement, immediately established the players’ credibility as members of an ensemble that was going to go about its business of an evening’s music-making that would give their audience intense pleasure – and themselves the satisfaction of knowing it.

Their artistic objective of ensuring that every note was to be perfectly sounded in exactly the right place was obvious from the first few bars, and through the four movements of this delightfully accomplished and witty Mozart work they displayed their commitment to excellence.

The Mendelssohn Quartet in E minor provided further scope for them to show the depth of their interpretive understanding. This they did with great assurance. From the assertive melody with which the First Violin sets an interesting, ear-catching dialogue going from the beginning of the first movement, through the whirling sounds of the Scherzo second movement and the third movement’s Song without Words, to the gathering tide of colourful sound that brings the whole work to a vigorous conclusion the technical precision and interaction of every player contributed to a superb account of the composer’s intentions.

Dvorak’s Op. 106 Quartet in G is a work of epic proportions, wide-ranging in its musical imagery and technical demands. The first movement begins in a state of anticipatory excitement, and then establishes the rhythmic, Bohemian atmosphere that is to dominate the whole work. There is relaxation when a more settled, flowing melody for the first violin surfaces and holds the attention for a while. In the ensuing development of the movement’s ideas all four instrumentalists are featured adding their individual tonal colours to the animated conversation. All this was splendidly communicated.

The second, slow movement explores depths of emotion not always to be encountered in Dvorak’s better known orchestral and choral works. Heart on sleeve he takes us into a world where the most intense feelings and emotions can be openly expressed and shared in musical terms. The members of the Zelkova Quartet shared with the audience their deeply felt awareness of what they were communicating through their playing.

The darkly galumphing main theme of the third, Scherzo, movement was announced with aplomb by all concerned, resounding with almost Beethovenian wit and getting more and more wonderfully outrageous at each of its several reprises.

The final movement is not without some tender moments, but is largely fiery. Inexorably pursuing its dramatic way towards an inflamed, swirling conclusion, it makes great demands on the performers’ concentration and commitment. With such a superb performance as this was, every member of the audience seemed to be caught up with the players in a most exhilarating whirlwind of Bohemian dance. The tremendous applause was only to be expected.

Rochdale Music Society’s 2018-19 concert series comes to an end on 11 May with Cellist Abel Selaocoe and Pianist Maya Irgalina in an exciting programme including music by Ravel, Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten and James MacMillan:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/58039/events-in-rochdale/rochdale-music-society-abel-selaocoe-and-maya-irgalina