Last Saturday I had the pleasure of hearing the Ironwood Ensemble play at the Glebe Town Hall. This is an ensemble I had been meaning to hear for a while now and it did not disappoint with a well thought out program that was played with great sensitivity.
There was a beautiful, relaxed yet intimate atmosphere at this concert. The space itself had grand high ceilings with details on the walls in the style of the Victorian Classical style. It had been a gorgeous Sydney day and the large windows around and behind the ensemble revealed the afternoon sun, which during the concert, evolved into the setting sun. This was a fabulous backdrop to the music the Ironwood Ensemble was going to play.
The focus of the concert was to perform the music of the composers whose styles informed Haydn’s work as a prolific Classical composer. The audience were guided through this with explanations of each composer and their styles and how this was significant to Haydn. I found this very informative, giving each work its context.
Although the better known composers such as Haydn get more acknowledgement, it really highlighted the value and significance of the work surrounding these composers. These lesser known works were a joy to listen to and made me wonder how much other music is somewhat forgotten beside the great and best known composers today. I found this program to be a well-focused musical snapshot into this time in history and the intimate setting allowed the audience to really be a part of that experience.
A highly enjoyable concert and I look forward to hearing the Ironwood Ensemble again soon.
Programme:
Quartet Op. 1 No. 2 A major (1975), dedicated to Haydn by H. Jadin
Quartet Op. 50 No. 4 F# minor (1787) by Haydn
Quartet Op. 30 No. 3 Eb major (1808) by Hummel
Review for:
Ironwood: Lost & Forgotten Quartets | 24 Oct 2015 | Glebe Town Hall
