REVIEW: Elias String Quartet, Upper Chapel
ON the day that Rafael Nadal was forced to bow out of the French Open after winning it for the last four years, the half-French Elias Quartet chose to bow out on their four-year residency in Sheffield.
The quartet's last Sheffield concert under their own steam was not as emotionally charged as their final one in the city as Ensemble 360 members at the end of Music in the Round's May Festival, but they did receive a spontaneous standing ovation again.
Emotion was latent in Sara Bitlloch's voice when she said how "spoilt they have been with such a fantastic audience," adding: "We'll really miss you."
They faced a daunting task four years ago, Sheffield audiences that only had ears for the Lindsay Quartet, but they were personable and had character and considerable ability from the start. They were musicianly with an unforced emotional response to music that was infectious and energetic.
Four years later, nothing has changed, except greater artistic confidence and homogenous integration have been added and the Elias has developed into formidably accomplished quartet.
Another all-Haydn concert proved the point last Sunday with perfect unison and poise in a delightful account of the Op 76 No 1 and power and beauty in The Seven Last Words, remarkable music given the period it was written in.
You could believe you were in Paradise in No 2 and there was playing of considerable beauty in No 6 too. Powerful emotions were invoked in No 5 and sonorities generally not exaggerated.
We wish the Elias every success in the future. They are far too good-a quartet not to succeed.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
