Presented by Adelaide International Guitar Festival and the Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed Sunday 12th August 2012
This concert featured the Australian String Quartet and four of the marvellous guitarists who have appeared in this Festival, taking it in turns to join with the Quartet to play a number of old and new string quintets. The Quartet has been a part of the music scene since 1985 and have performed around the world to critical acclaim, as well as being the Quartet in residence at the University of Adelaide. Kristian Winther and Anne Horton, violins, Stephen King, viola, and Rachel Johnston, cello, are the current members of the Quartet, with Winther and King joining the group this year. They have established themselves as one of the finest quartets and their performance of the works in this programme demonstrated why they are in demand.
Slava Grigoryan was first to join the Quartet, for a performance of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Quintet, Op. 143 from 1950. This is a beautifully lyrical piece in which there is a superb integration of the guitar part. Most of the major guitarists have recorded this work, such is its appeal. Grigoryan’s exceptionally expressive playing was a delight and made this one of the better performances, by far, of this work. He and the Quartet seemed to be thinking as one in a beautifully balanced performance. No wonder he was chosen to run this Festival.
Simon Powis chose Australian composer Phillip Houghton’s In Amber for his collaboration with the Quartet. As one might expect, this work calls for a few of the more modern playing techniques from the Quartet to express the composer’s ideas. Complex harmonic ideas abound in the three movements, and some rather angular melody lines. Houghton makes good use of silences, too, for heightened dramatic effect. There are also some very melodic passages in the work, as well as a chance for the viola to shine here and there. Powis again demonstrated his great technical ability, as well as his musicality, in this challenging piece.
Ana Vidovic opened the second half by repeating her solo performance of Asturias, by Isaac Albéniz, that was a very popular piece in her own concert, then joined with the Quartet to play the final movement, Fandango, from Luigi Boccherini’s 1788 arrangement of one of his earlier works, the Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D Major, G. 448. Boccherini wrote a copious collection of string quartets and quintets, of one sort or another, and his cello parts are well worth listening out for as he was, of course, a cellist as well as a composer. Vidovic’s delicate touch suited the piece perfectly, and balanced just as well with the excellent work of the Quartet.
Edin Karamazov then turned to the Beatles, playing seven of their best known numbers, arranged by Cuban composer Leo Brouwer into a suite he calls simply, Quintetto. Although arranged for a Guitar Quintet, this was no dull rendition with all of the life drained from it, in an attempt to turn it into something very serious. All of the original feeling of the tunes was there, brought out clearly and joyously by Karamazov. The playing order actually differed from that in the programme, beginning with the poignant, She’s Leaving Home. There were the well known songs, such as Got to Get You Into My Life, Eleanor Rigby, and Yesterday, as well as those less often heard such as She’s Leaving Home, and the aforementioned opening song. A sensitive approach to Penny Lane ended the performance and the concert. Karamazov captured the Beatles youthfulness and exuberance marvellously in these terrific arrangements.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide.
Venue: Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Road, Adelaide
Season: One performance only
Duration: 2hrs incl interval (advertised time 90mins)
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