The programme commenced with Beethoven’s Piano Quartet in E Flat major, an early work which shares his op 16 with a quintet version of the same work for piano and winds, inspired by an earlier work by Mozart. Immediately we knew we were in safe hands! The ensemble of these players is formidable and can only come from a thorough knowledge of each other’s musical personalities. No one player needed to push their tone to get their voice across and the warmth of their unison playing was a joy to listen to. Nevertheless, in the Andante of the Beethoven, each of the string players was able to put their solos across without dominating.

The quartet was enriched by the lively personality and the appropriately restrained playing of Chi-chi Nwanoku’s bass in the Piano Quintets of Hummel and Schubert which followed. The Hummel is a genial piece and here received a winning performance with genuine warmth in the slow movements and lovely light playing, particularly in the finale.

Hummel and Schubert were of course both accomplished pianists and it is not surprising that the piano plays a major part in these works, especially in the ‘Trout’ Quintet which rounded off the evening. However the beautifully articulate playing of Ben Frith never threatened to overwhelm the string texture while he was still able to give appropriate prominence to Schubert’s beautiful melodies and the bright upper registers of the King’s Hall piano.

The fourth movement variations, the memorable core of this work, received a wonderful performance and the concert was rounded off with a vigorous and playful account of the final Allegro which sent the listeners home more than happy.

CJS