The sunny evening of June 27th saw a large audience at St. Mary’s Church Ross on Wye, some of whom had battled their way through road closures and two traffic accidents for the final concert in the Music in Quiet places 2023-2024 season. They had come to see the Carducci Quartet and the young people they had been working with throughout the day in a series of masterclasses and workshops with Hereford Cathedral School, John Kyrle High School and the County Youth Orchestra String Quartet.
It was the first occasion that MiQP had welcomed John Kyrle High School and members of the County Youth Orchestra, and what a pleasure it was. As Chairman of HHCT, David Furnival, mentioned, there is so much young talent across the County and it was wonderful for everyone to see the collaboration between the different schools. What was particularly striking was the fact that they played so well together, despite having had very little rehearsal time together and only a few hours with the Carducci Quartet itself.
How marvellous it was for a young violinist to play at the same desk as Matthew Denton, Carducci’s first violin, and the other young musicians, conductors and accompanists to perform in front of well-known professionals. It is a testament to the approachability and friendliness of the Carducci quartet that everyone took the event in their stride, and cheered when it was Carducci’s turn to play, a sure sign of their popularity.
The concert contained a variety of pieces with plenty of fun – finger-snapping in a piece by Agioritis (Church Mouse wondered whether this was a connection of Arthritis), lots of bow-flourishing and pizzicato from Ravel, some “juicy harmonies” from John Rutter and “rock music for Buddhists” from Glass’ “Mishima”. Mouse’s favourite, however, was the Presto from Haydn’s String Quartet in Eb, the Joke. In case you are unfamiliar with it, the music appears to finish and the audience starts to clap and then the players start again – several times, so that by the end of the piece nobody is sure (apart from the performers!) whether it really is the end or not!
Thanks to everyone involved, the Carducci Quartet, the young performers and the carers who brought them, school staff and the team at St. Mary’s Church for providing bar staff for the free wine which came with the ticket.
Church Mouse
