Australian Haydn Ensemble | Haydn’s Sunrise
March 17, 2025, The Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House, NSW
Skye McIntosh – Artistic Director and violin
Matthew Greco – violin
Karina Schmitz – viola
Daniel Yeadon – cello
HAYDN
String Quartet Op. 76
No. 4 in B flat major Sunrise
BEETHOVEN
String Quartet
Op. 18 No. 1 in F major
FANNY MENDELSSOHN (HENSEL)
String Quartet in E flat majo
The string players in this concert are all well-known in the period instrument movement in Sydney and elsewhere and it was with great interest that I attended to see how they took the great leap into the world of string quartet mode and how they would fare with the inevitable comparison with the many great quartets who have spent decades in rehearsal and giving concerts. The enthusiastic reception from the full house Utzon Room gave indication that this was going to be a night when the audience was determined to enjoy themselves.
The ensemble playing was clearly at its best in the happy and boisterous 2nd movement of the quartet by Fanny Mendelssohn. Violist Karina Schmitz and cellist Daniel Yeadon played stunning little virtuosic solos in this movement and all shone throughout this most attractive work. Indeed all 4 players had great opportunities to show their technical and musical wares.
With its eastern European flavour the Minuet & Trio of the Haydn 0p.76/4 is such endearing music and the quartet played it with verve. In the Beethoven Op.18/1 the quartet brought a focused and concentrated approach that saw the drama in the 1st movement unfold and the moments of turbulence in the 2nd movement come to the fore.
Matthew Greco is simply one of the best string players in the period instrument world around and whenever you attend a concert and see him performing you know something special will happen and in this case he was that most important cog in the quartet, the driving force, with the viola of course, the second violin. Leader Skye McIntosh has brought together wonderful colleagues who share her vision of giving Australia first class performances of music from the classical and early romantic periods.
It is always a delight to be in the Utzon Room with the panoramic view of Sydney Harbour – flicking lights, ferries and pleasure craft bobbing along and gulls making swoops here and there whilst all the time being truly serenaded with music of a time long gone. Indeed, the concert by the Australian Haydn Ensemble String Quartet consisted of music from when Sydney was a new European settlement and what we now call Bennelong Point was an area of great significance to all.
Photo credit: Oliver Miller
