Reviewed by Bernard Pritchard

On Saturday, 8th November The Dante String Quartet - Krysia Osostowitz and Oscar Perks violins, Yuko Inoue Viola and Richard Jenkinson Cello - performed at Dr. Challoner's High School in a recital organised by The Amersham Concert Club as part of their 48th Season.

The programme started with a Haydn quartet called (not by the composer) “The Lark” and catalogued as Op.64 No.5, it is significant as this was written for a performance in London. Haydn after years of service for Prince Esterhazy was starting to travel!

The work gets its name because of the opening with a long outpouring of melody from the first violin.

How remarkable are the quartets of Haydn -they contain a lifetime of listening!

The second work was the String Quartet No.2 by Kodaly, composed between 1916 and 1918. With Bartok, he had spent many years collecting folk songs and although he does not quote them directly their influence can be felt.

The first movement has from its first notes, an introspective mood. There are moments when pizzicato passages lighten the mood but it is a very subdued D major! The usual three movements are replaced by a single movement that does however reflect the more usual structure. There is no very obvious “Sonata” form – the music is in episodes that evolve and merge, the writing is such that the process seems natural and unforced.

This requires playing of the utmost sensitivity which the Dante Quartet achieved. I suspect, as they have recently released a recording of the work, they are very familiar with it. On a personal note I have persuaded myself that I have room on my shelves for one more recording!

The concert ended with a major work by Schubert, the quartet in D minor D810 “ Death and the Maiden.” Oscar Perks, the second violin, explained that the second movement is based on the Schubert song of that name but that we should not feel horror at the thought of “the Grim Reaper” and the girl - that the situation is more of relaxation and release. I was not convinced!

This is one of the masterpieces that the composer wrote in his dying years that are among the peaks of 19th century musical achievement.

We heard a matchless performance - we have enjoyed many evenings over the years of great music, superbly performed. This was among the best.

The Amersham Concert Club has tried several times to present this outstanding Quartet and at last we have succeeded.

The Club’s next concert is on Saturday 7th February 2015 when Martyn Jackson (violin) and Petr Limonov (piano) perform a programme which includes Ravel’s violin sonata and Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ sonata. Local music lovers may recall Petr’s wonderful conducting of Nicola Benedetti in a concert in Amersham earlier this year.

Tickets £15, Students Free. Call 01494 765420 or visit www.amershamconcerts.org.uk for more information.