Robert Plane and the Sacconi Quartet, Kendal Town Hall

Kendal Midday Concert Club’s recent programme of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581 and York Bowen’s Phantasy Quintet for bass clarinet and strings was a really attractive combination of the known and the unknown. The clarinettist, Robert Plane, has graced the town hall’s stage for many years and his appearance was, doubtless, eagerly anticipated by all who knew of the quality of his musicianship. The Sacconi Quartet, new to the club, but with a glowing CV and experiencing well-deserved fame (but with the men needing to learn something about dress code) were his partners for the occasion.

I have, not-infrequently, had cause to comment critically upon the town hall’s curious acoustics as experienced by those in the balcony seats for whom the balance is often awry. Those sitting downstairs, however, usually have no such issues and I’m hoping that this was the case recently because, from upstairs, the upper strings were completely lacking in projection – particularly in the Mozart, where parity between violins and soloist is vital. This was a great shame because, apart from a number of sparkling passages during which all was well, the soloist was disappointingly supported. But things, of course, might have seemed different downstairs. For all of us, though, Robert Plane, together with his basset clarinet and its often comic low notes, gave a commanding performance - cleanly articulate, virtuosic, shapely of phrase, expressively lyrical, colourful of tone; the consummate musician we know him to be.

York Bowen’s rarity was better served on the whole. Despite a tendency towards bottom-heaviness there was a lovely blend throughout. The bass clarinet’s richly dark and velvety tone combined attractively with the imaginatively-scored string ensemble. There was energy, drama, virtuosity and delightful control at all dynamic levels, especially 'pp and ppp,' heard to perfection at the work’s calm ending.

Here is a piece that would assuredly benefit from a second hearing - ideally in a perfect acoustic!

Brian Paynes