Pavel Haas String Quartet, Holy Trinity Church, 7.30pm

A most enthusiastic audience at the second concert of the Oswestry School Recital Series was treated to a concert of rare quality in Holy Trinity Church, given by the young and much-acclaimed Pavel Haas String Quartet. This Prague-based quartet is greatly in demand all round the world, and it was easy to see and hear why.

Their programme of an early Benjamin Britten work, and then two quartets by Janacek and Dvorak, was probably not very familiar to most of the large audience, but was played with such utter brilliance, virtuosity and musicianship that the repeated curtain calls at the end elicited a generous encore – an amusing work written by the composer Pavel Haas after whom the quartet is named.

To hear music from Eastern Europe played by compatriots of that region is always a thrill. The natural innate feeling for the style and context of the music often results in performances of extraordinary perceptiveness and empathy. So, to travel with these consummate players as they unfolded the anguished narrative of the Janacek ‘Kreutzer’ quartet was a revelation, and a profoundly moving experience: every shade and nuance was graphically expressed with such rare sensitivity that one could certainly have heard the proverbial pin dropped. Indeed, it was gratifying to hear afterwards from the players how highly they thought of this particular audience, whose intensity of concentration and warmth they contrasted with, for example, their recent experience when playing in New York’s Carnegie Hall. So well done, Oswestry music-goers!

The Dvorak music – one of the composer’s last and finest – wonderfully expressed the delight he felt at being back home once more in his native land after his second sojourn in America. The slow movement was achingly tender, with pianissimos of amazing control and stillness: yet when the exuberance of the last movement demanded, one might have thought the stage filled with an orchestra.

This was unquestionably playing of the very highest order by one of the world’s great quartets, played live here in Oswestry.  How unbelievably fortunate we are to have such chances presented to us on our doorstep – and how baffling that the audiences (large though they are) are not double the size! Where are all the aspiring young (and not so young) string players from this area – an area so rich in good amateur music-making? For such obvious enthusiasts this would have been a concert to inspire and thrill.

Christopher Symons

Founded in 2002 and based in Prague, the Pavel Haas String Quartet takes its name from the Czech composer Pavel Haas (1899–1944), who was deported from Czechoslovakia in 1941 and died in the Auschwitz concentration camp.  The quartet is made up of first violinist Veronika Jarůškova, second violinist Eva Karová, violist Pavel Nikl, and cellist Peter Jarůšek.

The quartet won the 2004 "Vittorio E. Rimbotti" award in Florence, the 2005 Prague Spring International Music Festival and the 2005 Premio Paolo Borciani international string-quartet competition after which this young and exciting quartet was launched on the international stage and has since performed at the world's most prestigious concert halls. The European Concert Hall Organisation named them its Rising Star for 2007–2008 and their first recording, released in October 2006, was the BBC Music Magazine's "Chamber Choice".

SUBSCRIBER AND TICKET DETAILS

The Subscriber Ticket covers all six concerts, guarantees seats, mailings, and occasional free pre-concert drink. It represents a saving of almost 30% on the full price, and buys six marvellous concerts for just £11 each. All tickets are available at half price for children.

We are grateful for the sponsorship of the Recital Series Brochure by Mr Stephen Hodge OO.

Don’t hesitate! Download a booking form here or

Tickets and further information from:

Mrs Frances Davies

Oswestry School

Upper Brook Street, Oswestry,

Shropshire, SY11 2TL

Telephone 01691 681135

or

The Secretary

Oswestry School, Bellan House, Church Street, Oswestry

or

Music Makers, Albion Hill, Oswestry