Phoenix Collective Quartet: An Emotional Journey Through Strings

Phoenix Collective Quartet | Beethoven, Vasks, Daft Punk

16 November, 2024, Hunter Baillie Church, Annandale, NSW

Before the first note of the program proper, we were treated to a few bars preview of Dan Russell’s new violin, crafted by Carlo Antonio Testore. A snippet of The Lark Ascending soared through the room, the high notes shimmering and spine-tingling. Though Russell confessed he’s only had the instrument for a week and a half, their budding relationship already promises brilliance.

Beethoven’s ‘Serioso’ Quartet: Drama and Depth

Phoenix Collective Quartet opened with Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 ‘Serioso’. Introduced with humour and insight by second violinist Pip Thompson, she mused on the chance to interrogate Beethoven’s intentions if he were alive today – a thought fitting for a piece so ahead of its time.

The opening Allegro con brio was gripping, each player delivering the work’s rapid shifts between drama and tranquility with precision. Russell’s Testore violin sparkled in the upper registers, its clarity cutting through the ensemble. The Allegretto ma non troppo, with its delicate fugal interplay, showcased the group’s tight cohesion, while the Allegro assai vivace ma serioso erupted with dramatic energy, showing the chemistry of this well established quartet.

The final movement (Larghetto espressivo – Allegretto agitato – Allegro) featured moments of emotional depth and surprising modernity. The bending of notes in the opening phrase, whether intentional or interpretative, evoked a haunting, almost vocal quality. The effervescent coda was delivered with champagne-like joy – a weirdly sparkling conclusion to a work full of Beethoven’s inner turmoil.

Vasks’s String Quartet No. 4: Music of the Heavens

Latvian composer Peteris Vasks’s String Quartet No. 4 carried us to celestial heights. Russell aptly described it as “music unlike anything you have heard before,” and the quartet’s performance delivered on this promise.

In the opening Elegy, sustained high notes glided into gentle trills, creating an ethereal backdrop. Andrew Wilson’s cello provided a warm, grounding presence as the music seemed to draw breath like an organ pipe. The Toccata I balanced and air of introspection with rhythmic vitality, while the Choral alternated between clashing tempi and harmonious unison. Wilson’s simultaneous bowing and plucking of stings was striking.

The Meditation left me spellbound. Notes seemed to vanish into the stratosphere, with Russell’s violin soaring into a prayer-like melody. Feather-light bow strokes and a single, unbroken sustained note exemplified the quartet’s technical precision and emotional depth. This was music that truly brought tears to the eyes with its transcendent beauty.

Daft Punk Reimagined: From the Heavens to the Dancefloor

Transitioning to Daft Punk might have seemed like a jarring choice after Vasks, but strangely it worked pretty well. These familiar, funk-infused melodies provided a joyful return to earth. Opening with I Feel It Coming, the quartet infused pizzicato viola from Ella Brinch with jazzy ease, gradually building to a full-bodied improvisatory feel.

By the time Lose Yourself to Dance arrived, the mood had shifted to playful exuberance. At time the instruments were even used percussively, adding a fresh, rhythmic dimension. The final work left us tapping our feet and grinning ear to ear – a spirited conclusion.

Final Thoughts

Phoenix Collective Quartet delivered a program that spanned the full range of human emotion, from Beethoven’s stormy introspection to Vasks’s spiritual transcendence and Daft Punk’s infectious groove. Dan Russell’s new Testore violin shone brightly, while Pip Thompson, Ella Brinch, and Andrew Wilson each brought their unique voice to the ensemble.

Phoenix Collective Quartet continues to redefine what a chamber music experience can be. Their 2025 subscription series is now on sale as they continue their tradition of ‘weekend tours’ to Canberra, Sydney and Central Coast, as well as their debut concert at the Sydney Opera House, in the Utzon Room. Find out more here >>