Castalian Quartet

25 November 2018 at 3:00pm

St Paul’s Church, Percy Street, Alnwick, NE66 1AE

Their joyful performance of Mozart’s popular ‘Dissonance’ String Quartet was memorable for its fresh approach and superb ensemble. These qualities were also evident in their playing of Beethoven’s second Razumovsky Quartet, particularly in the final movement where their precision and virtuosity was quite breathtaking.

However, the surprise of the evening was the lesser known Fauré String Quartet.

Composed in the last year of his life, this is a piece that can seem rather obscure and lacking in direction but, in the hands of the Castalian, who obviously have a particular affection for the work, the serene beauty of Fauré’s elegiac swansong made a lasting impression. This was a memorable concert greatly enjoyed by an appreciative audience.