{TABLE} Quartet in A minor D804 .............. Schubert Arpeggione Sonata .................... Schubert Quintet in C D956 .................... Schubert {/TABLE} TO mark the bicentenary of Schubert's birth and the centenary of Brahms's death, the RTE Vanbrugh String Quartet is presenting a concert series devoted to the chamber music of those composers.
It started on Sunday afternoon, when a large audience at the National Concert Hall heard an excellent all Schubert programme.
The opening bars of the Quartet in A minor, D804, suggested that we would hear some individualistic, purposeful playing. The graceful opening idea of the Minuet movement, for example, calls for restraint, and that was what we got. But the players did not present the material just in a beautifully understated way: they suggested and suggested, as if this was a prelude to something definitive. The point of arrival was the dance like second idea - a view of the movement which is both striking and apt. That was how all of this quartet went, with lots of Schubertian polish and with subtle shading, yet with surprises aplenty.
Robert Cohen played the Arpeggione Sonata superbly, revelling in the high tessitura and melodiousness of this piece. He has the technique and musicianship to deliver; and his accompanist, John Gibson, produced shapely and responsive playing.
Cohen joined the Vanbrughs for the great Quintet in C, D956. Here, and in the earlier quartet, I would have welcomed the repeat in the first movement, even though that would have extended the concert to over 2 1/4 hours of music.
The playing brimmed with contrasts and interpretative ideas were sometimes pushed to an extremity. Not all the risks paid off equally; but from an amply shaped first movement to a reckless, mad dash ending, this was an enormously enjoyable performance.
