Proms at Liverpool (22.08.22)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

13:00 Monday 22 August 2022
Liverpool

Doreen Carwithen: String Quartet No.2
Brahms: String Quartet in A minor, Op.51 No.2

Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam

We’re living in a new golden age of string quartet playing, and the Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam is in its vanguard – four superb young players who believe chamber music is an act of friendship, and that anything this good deserves to be shared. Never afraid to explore beyond the standard repertoire, today the Dudok's champion Doreen Carwithen’s windswept Second Quartet of 1950, alongside one of the gentle giants of the 19th-century repertoire: the big-hearted masterpiece that Brahms wrote as a gift for his great friend, the Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim. With interpreters as imaginative as these, it’ll sound more vibrant than ever in the magnificent surroundings of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The BBC crystal ball is still alive and kicking, with guaranteed predictions of the superlative performance still in evidence.

Good that Liverpool gets a look-in at the Proms. These Proms around the country are a great idea, but I hope one day these will include more full evening concerts. The nearest we've got so far was the one at the Sage.

[Dave2002]

13:00 Monday 22 August 2022
Liverpool

Doreen Carwithen: String Quartet No.2
Brahms: String Quartet in A minor, Op.51 No.2

Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam

We’re living in a new golden age of string quartet playing, and the Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam is in its vanguard – four superb young players who believe chamber music is an act of friendship, and that anything this good deserves to be shared. Never afraid to explore beyond the standard repertoire, today the Dudok's champion Doreen Carwithen’s windswept Second Quartet of 1950, alongside one of the gentle giants of the 19th-century repertoire: the big-hearted masterpiece that Brahms wrote as a gift for his great friend, the Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim. With interpreters as imaginative as these, it’ll sound more vibrant than ever in the magnificent surroundings of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall.

I can't remember whether the acoustics in St George's Hall are good or not - but my suspicion is "not". Yes - it's a splendid building - but is it a good building in terms of function? Probably not. I have heard music there, and also been to drama productions - but that was very many years ago. I can't recall it being a particularly good venue for any of the events I attended. I wish the quartet well - though the acoustics may not figure much as presumably the sound engineers can use close mics if necessary and avoid any ambience which derives from the building itself.

However things may have improved. See this article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodewald_Concert_Society
It seems that the interior of St George's Hall has been adapted for use as a small concert hall for use by chamber orchestras or quartets. This makes a lot of sense, as it was always a nonsense having string quartets and small chamber ensembles playing in the Philharmonic Hall - great as that is for orchestral performances. So in fairness I can't pass judgement on the acoustics in the new small hall. I hope it works well.

[bluestateprommer]

I can't remember whether the acoustics in St George's Hall are good or not - but my suspicion is "not". Yes - it's a splendid building - but is it a good building in terms of function? Probably not. I have heard music there, and also been to drama productions - but that was very many years ago. I can't recall it being a particularly good venue for any of the events I attended. I wish the quartet well - though the acoustics may not figure much as presumably the sound engineers can use close mics if necessary and avoid any ambience which derives from the building itself.

However things may have improved. See this article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodewald_Concert_Society
It seems that the interior of St George's Hall has been adapted for use as a small concert hall for use by chamber orchestras or quartets. This makes a lot of sense, as it was always a nonsense having string quartets and small chamber ensembles playing in the Philharmonic Hall - great as that is for orchestral performances. So in fairness I can't pass judgement on the acoustics in the new small hall. I hope it works well.

Petroc mentioned that the venue seats 500 or so patrons. Listening again through the limits of a laptop alone, things sounded fine to me. The Dudok Quartet did very well in both works. No interview banter with the musicians, just the quartet performing both works and getting on with it (but I wouldn't doubt that they all command English just fine).

I remember hearing the Doreen Carwithen quartets on Chandos many years ago, so it's good to hear her 2nd Quartet featured at The Proms, even if in Liverpool rather than Cadogan Hall with the "standard crowd". Her work seems more carefully wrought and crafted compared to Ethel Smyth's works that have gotten more attention from Proms planners this season. I plan to give DC's work another listen when I'm back at the ranch (as it were) and can listen through external speakers again.

On EA's point about trying to reach audiences outside London, there was applause after the 1st movements of both quartets. This conveys to me that the BBC Proms have reached some new audience members, or at least folks there new to chamber music, with at least this concert.

[smittims]

I've enjoyed everything I've heard of Doreen Carwithen. Her cello sonatina turns up on 'Through the Night' occasionally, and there's a good Dutton CD of her film scores.

It's funny, though, how all RVW's pupils sound a bit like him: Maconchy, Benjamin, Lilburn, etc.

[bluestateprommer]

Gave DC's String Quartet No. 2 a fresh late listen through home speakers, and enjoyed hearing it again. I must acknowledge a big mea culpa, however, that I somehow missed the interview banter between Petroc and two members of the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam, which I genuinely do not recall hearing at the time. I do remember Petroc's talk about St. George's Hall itself, so this really is a mystery. Whatever about that, still a very fine "Proms at..." chamber concert, worth a re-listen.