When I arrived at Wigmore Hall, I was surprised at the size of it – I expected it to be really big, but it was much smaller than I had imagined. However, this in a way made the concert more personal.
The Matteo Quartet, formerly the Esher Quartet, started the concert with Beethoven’s String quartet in F minor. It started off with an opening unison bar, played together at their loudest, which proved to return later on in more sing-song parts. I think this loud and confident beginning really awoke the audience, and caught our attention bringing us along with them on the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed listening as well as watching all the players, including the incredibly enthusiastic 1st violin player! The second movement, started beautifully by the cello, continued to chop and change – with contrasting harsh fast passages next to song like lyrical parts which was brought alive throughout all the movements.
The solo pieces by Natalie Clein were written for her by composers that she had chosen, and commissioned – Thomas Larcher and Fyfe Dangerfield. This was from funds from the Amaryllis Fleming Foundation, which I think is a great idea as it gives new and upcoming composers a chance to show their work.
The first piece, a Sonata by Thomas Larcher, was extremely inventive – perhaps a little too much for me. Yes, it was incredibly tense and left you eager to find out what was next: and also made you rethink about what the cello can do, from plucking and playing to notes so high that they are off the fingerboard! However, I think that maybe he had pushed the boundaries a little too far, but that is simply my view - I found it entertaining but it was not really my type of music.