Phoenix Collective Quartet
All Saints Church, Ainslie
10 November
Reviewed by Len Power
In their final program for 2023, Phoenix Collective Quartet
presented a varied program of three works, a world premiere of a new work
commissioned from Australian composer, Emma Greenhill, and string quartets by
Ralph Vaughan Williams and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Founded in 2018 by Dan Russell, Phoenix has rapidly become a fixture of the Australian musical landscape with their own series of concerts touring Sydney, Canberra, Central Coast and Newcastle. The quartet consisted of Dan Russell, violin, Pip Thompson, violin, Ella Brinch, viola and Andrew Wilson, cello.
Phoenix Collective Quartet
The concert commenced with Emma Greenhill’s new work
entitled “What We Cannot Say With Words”. A short work in two movements,
“Mirage” and “Dust To Dust”, it began with a sense of optimism but also an
edgy, worrisome undercurrent, leading to a feeling of things unresolved or
unexpressed. The second movement was dedicated by the composer “to those who
are facing unimaginable suffering in the world today” and, while its initial dreamlike
quality gave way to a sense of sadness, there was a hint of optimism in the
final note. It was a work full of emotion very well expressed and it was given
a fine, sensitive performance by the quartet.
Vaughan Williams “String Quartet No. 2” from 1944 commenced with a dark, brooding movement that explored unsettling themes. The composer’s frequent use of two time signatures created polyrhythms which added to this sense of darkness and discomfort.
These unsettling themes continued through the other movements producing a work that had a wartime sensibility, dark, dramatic at times and full of emotion. The quartet played it with great assurance and understanding.
The final work, Beethoven’s “Rasumovsky String Quartet no 7 in F major” was written later in the composer’s life when he was struggling with increasing deafness.
This work’s changeable nature was often passionate and
colourful with light-hearted melodies leading to darker, tempestuous moments
full of drama. The final movement, with its lush melodies was the highlight of
this work. The quartet played it with
great feeling, bringing out all the emotion in Beethoven’s music.
Members of the quartet introduced each of the works. Their relaxed, often humorous, insights into the works and their experience of learning to play them, added another welcome dimension to this fine concert.
Photo by Len Power
This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 11 November 2023.
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.
