Echéa Quartet

Bartók never meant his 3rd String Quartet to be easy listening but cellist Eliza Millet’s concise and enthusiastic introduction was very helpful. We had to listen carefully to appreciate the complexities of the work: fragments of tune, the glissandi slides up or down the string, the chattering sounds as they played near the bridge. The ensemble was tight, the abrupt silences between chords clean. You couldn’t have told that the second violin, Ying Xue, was a guest from another quartet. The communication between the players was intense, with much smiling and eye-contact. They were clearly loving the music and this enjoyment was passed on to the audience.

After a short break, with my ears now ‘tuned up’ for Bartók, I was able to hear so much more detail in Mendelssohn’s charming E-flat major Quartet (Op. 44 No. 3). These exciting young musicians made a splendid finale to a really excellent series of lunchtime concerts.

All Saints Church,
27 May 2022

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