MICHAEL DRAKE Invention, crafted tunefulness and musical intensity, not to say genius – some of the conclusions of early reviewers of the works in this UEA Music Series Concert.

MICHAEL DRAKE

Invention, crafted tunefulness and musical intensity, not to say genius – some of the conclusions of early reviewers of the works in last evening's UEA Music Series Concert – were at the interpretative fingertips of the Maggini Quartet in a programme of rich variety.

Starting with Haydn's String Quartet Op76 No4, the early gentility of the “Sunrise” opening and the slow movement could have taken the heat of any situation; the stress away from any long day while laughing at any listener who might still have the blues.

The competition specification for Frank Bridge's entry, the Phantasie Quartet, called for “parts of equal interest” and the Maggini kept to the script from the martial beginning to the ebullient end and then, in complete contrast, it was to the late Beethoven Quartet Op32 moving from a delightfully meandering Minuet and Trio via the fugal and melancholic Adagio to an intense Finale of opposing strength and subtlety.

A shimmering snatch of Peter Maxwell Davies's 3rd quartet provided an encore.

t The Maggini Quartet were playing at the John Innes Centre, Colney.