Zelkova Quartet, Kendal Town Hall

AS HAS been the case throughout its distinguished history (1944-2017), Kendal Midday Concert Club’s season ended, as it began, in magnificent style. A key figure since 2011 has been Dr John Hiley, who, as the artists’ secretary, has been responsible for the engagement of an ever-widening diversity of quality artists - a policy that bodes well for the club’s future and has clearly delighted its members. Another of the club’s worthy attractions is the team of ladies Lunch Committee members who, with cheerful, inviting mien, supply light lunches to those wishing to enjoy the pleasures of pre-concert conversation.

For the club’s final concert the Zelkova Quartet brought two chamber music heavyweights for our delectation - Shostakovich’s Quartet No 8, Op 110 and Beethoven’s Quartet Op 59, No 2 ‘Rasumovsky.’

So it was that we found ourselves in the comfort, warmth and safe environment of like-minded people gathering freely together for an enjoyable experience. The four young musicians on stage, however, were intent on portraying a starkly different environment. Their music, despite the suggestion of national pride lurking below the surface, was bleak, intense and violent, devoid of warmth and love, scarred by muscular, pugnacious rhythms and jagged, explosive dissonances; horror and sadness permeated the air. In truth they were doing a wonderful job because we could not fail but to be transported back to the abominations of Stalin’s Russia. The music-making was impassioned, dark and dramatic - precisely as Shostakovich would have wished; after all, this was his Quartet No 8, his vitriolic indictment of life under Stalin.

Beethoven’s masterpiece found the Zelkovas on a different planet. Most convincing they were, too, in their changed world. There were periodic and powerful dissonances but also present were lyrical, flowing melodies, beautifully-shaped and controlled phrases, immaculate ensemble work, technical dexterity, sophisticated musicianship, and also an attractive poise to both their playing and demeanour.

We were back in the bosom of appealing, comforting music-making. What a rewarding, enjoyable experience, though, the hour had been.

Brian Paynes