BWW Reviews: ZEPHYR QUARTET: BEYOND THE SCREEN - Relaxed Evening of Musical Gems by Film Greats

Reviewed by Blake Parham, Sunday 27th October 2013

The Zephyr Quartet's most recent concert, at the Promethean, was a relaxed cabaret style performance of rarely heard musical works by some of the greatest film composers of the 20th century: Nino Rota, Bernard Herrmann, Alies Sluiter, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

The Zephyr Quartet, Belinda Gehlert and Emily Tulloch (violins), Jason Thomas (viola), and Hilary Kleinig (cello), is known for presenting high quality performances of alternative repertoire, and this concert was no exception. These rarely heard compositions are highly reminiscent of post-war film music, especially in their use of an array of evocative tonal colours. The compositions while entertaining, and very well performed, seemed to lack a sense of any real narrative or musical development, which at times lessened their appeal.

Regardless, the quartet presented and played these compositions superbly, with some of the best ensemble playing I have heard in recent times. Indeed, this concert showed why they are considered one of Adelaide's finer string quartets. The final work of the evening, Korngold's String Quartet No. 2, was easily the stand out performance of the night. The flowing legato melodies, juxtaposed with fast rhythmic passages, and coupled with the highly virtuosic ending to the work, showed off the high quality of each player's technique nicely.

Ultimately, it was an enjoyable evening of interesting music performed by a talented ensemble of musicians. I hope to continue to see the quartet performing rarely heard music for many years to come.

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