Page 692 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

on the one hand suitably uplifted by the Quartettsatz yet on the other hand
disappointed that there was no more music to come.

Next the Echéa Quartet performed Haydn’s Quartet in F minor, Op.20/5
definitely one of his most attractive scores. Haydn’s Op.20 set of six string
quartets are esteemed, helping to earn him the epithet of ‘the father of the string
quartet’. Responding decisively to Haydn’s exquisite writing the playing of the
Echéa Quartet is marked by unanimity and an impressive level of rhythmic
vitality.

My visit to ‘Music at Paxton’ ended with a Beethoven work the String Quartet in
F major, Op.59/1. Amongst Beethoven’s many great achievements is his second
set of string quartets, Op.59 a commission by Count Andreas Razumovsky the
Russian ambassador in Vienna. Razumovsky was an amateur cellist, and in the
F major score Beethoven provided an extended cello part which was relished
by Silvestrs Kalnins, who normally plays a Matteo Goffriller (on loan from the
RCM), producing a gorgeous tone. I must single out the memorable playing of
the heart-rending slow movement that approaches a level of emotion normally
found in late Beethoven.

With a programme that was familiar ground to many, it was rewarding to hear
a relatively young ensemble playing with an innate freshness and definitely no
sign of routine. Such outstanding playing from the Echéa Quartet seemed to
communicate a special sense of discovery which was fitting way to end the
concert.

Michael Cookson