Cuarteto Casals at the National Botanic Gardens, 13th June 2014.

Cuarteto Casals are an astonishing Spanish string quartet: phenomenal in their interpretation, their energy and in every other respect. The National Botanic Gardens is blazing in the late evening sun as the concert begins and provides a stunning background for this concert of Mozart, Ligeti and Brahms.

The encouraging signs begin before the quartet even tune up: they possess a set of very fine Classical-period bows, apparently paid for through winning a prize from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust. The quartet’s approach to Mozart is magnificent, playing with a very modern, sparing approach to vibrato, but with real individuality and risk-taking. This performance of his famous String Quartet in C major K465 ‘Dissonance’ is a truly emotional and visceral experience. Cuarteto Casals couple this interpretation with a technically flawless performance. Their tuning is almost unbelievable, with unisons and octaves so perfectly aligned that the four players sound like one instrument. Similarly, the ensemble playing is far beyond the level of even most top string quartets, with beautiful balancing of voices and colour and terrifying rhythmic togetherness. Abel Tomás’ playing of the first violin part is miraculously beautiful.

The left-field element of this programme comes from Ligeti’s String Quartet No. 1 – Métamorphoses nocturnes. Ligeti is one of those composers whose every move has been imitated by lesser successors to the point where many of his techniques can sound hackneyed. Thankfully, in the hands of the originator they still sound fresh, sincere and affecting, as well as witty. The work is divided into many short sections, punctuated by drastic changes of tempo and mood. It also sends the quartet on an exploration of extended techniques and unusual textures. They seem equally at home in this territory as with Mozart.

Brahms was a huge influence on Ligeti (something that occasionally comes through in the Ligeti quartet tonight), making it somehow appropriate to programme the two together. In Brahms’ String Quartet in C minor Op. 51 No. 1 the Quarteto Casals once again sound as if they were born to play the music. Their assurance and command of these three very different styles is total.

At no point in the evening does it sound as if the players are being required to do anything difficult; they somehow create the illusion that they are concentrating entirely on expression. The Brahms is magical, of course, the venue beautiful and the concert extremely moving and memorable.

Programme

Mozart – String Quartet in C major K 465 (Dissonance)
Ligeti – String Quartet No. 1 (Métamorphoses nocturnes)

Brahms – String Quartet No. 1 in C minor Op. 51 No. 1