Tickhill: Villiers Quartet provide another triumphant evening for Music Society

The concert began with the first of Haydn’s last two quartets.

Although by this time Haydn was getting old and frail, he had reached the pinnacle of his chamber music writing career.

He had been commissioned to write the traditional set of six but only completed two.

The first, Op 77 No.1 in G major, is a sparkling work and from the crisp opening chords it was clear that the audience was to be treated to some fine music making.

From the march rhythm of the opening movement to the sprightly Presto of the finale the Villiers gave us a satisfying opening to the evenings music.

The Quartet No. 5 by the American composer Philip Glass was a sharp contrast.

It has five movements played without any breaks and captured the spirit of New York, ‘the city that never sleeps’.

Particularly impressive was the powerful mechanical drive of the second movement dominated by the relentless pounding of the cello.

The final work after the interval was Elgar’s Quartet in E minor, Op 83, a late work not often heard these days.

The second movement is labelled ‘piacevole’ which means ‘pleasantly easy’.

The piece displayed all the characteristics of Elgar’s style and made a fitting conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable concert.

The incisive precision and sensitive musicality of the Villiers Quartet produced another triumph for Tickhill Music Society.

The society’s next concert is Friday, 11th April following their Annual General Meeting when The Sterling Trio, joined by soprano Elisa Dye, will perform pieces by Bach, bliss, Saint-Saens and Schubert at St Mary’s Primary School in Tickhill

Entry is £10 for non-members.

Philip Mottram