Marmen Quartet

Brighton Festival’s lunchtime concert programme seldom fails to delight, but on occasions that delight turns to rapture. The Marmen Quartet was one such concert. Four very young performers brought something very special to the stage of the Theatre Royal Brighton with two very contrasting works. Firstly Haydn’s String Quartet in B Flat Major, a sparkling display of virtuosic precision but never mechanical. Their playing was full of energy, fizzing with delight and joy.

Second in contrast came Dubussy’s String Quartet in G Minor, this time sweeping expanses of darkly emotional playing, energy yes, but of a very different kind. Musical landscapes, narrative storytelling, uplifting at times then dark and moody at others.

The only thing missing was an encore, but for most of us it was a deeply satisfying experience of the kind that these exceptional concerts often provide.

10 May

Theatre Royal Brighton

Andrew Kay

Rating: