The Aroha String Quartet celebrate their 10th anniversary this year and during this time they have become a significant chamber ensemble in New Zealand. The quartet have the ability to draw the audience into their world of warm sonorities where delicate dynamic levels pervade. In this programme of quartet masterpieces from the German, Russian and French repertoire, the different styles enabled the ensemble to show their versatility, which was greatly enhanced by two very beautiful Chinese works with a soundscape that enthralled and enriched the audience.

In Beethoven’s early String Quartet, Op.18 No.5, dedicated to Mozart the quartet captured all the classical elements and communicated the contrasting elements well. The tempi throughout superb, with the opening being bold and bright where the flowing melodies sung, the Menuetto had charm. The Andante Cantabile was infused with a beautifully gentle lilt and a Beethovenesque robustness in the variations. The delicacy of the last movement was enhanced by the conveyed clarity of the contrapuntal elements.

Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.1, being his first in this genre has a neo-classical mantle to the work. The open movement is imbued with a sense of tranquillity, the second had the solemn viola firmly centre stage. The muted hues of the Allergo molto were drawn like delicate lattice. The finale carried a dramatic dynamism through to the end.

Hua Yan-Jun’s Spring Water Reflects the Moon and the traditional Song of Emancipation were very beautiful, highly accomplished arrangements of Chinese songs. The bringing together of two musical traditions into a new well integrated aural palette was convincing. In merging these idioms Aroha captured the subtle sonorities and textures, some melodic, others harmonic or rhythmic; totally enchanting.

In Ravel’s String Quartet in F, it seems only natural that he would combine his fine sensibilities for colour and texture in a small ensemble. A classical sense of form, a vocabulary of melody and harmony that was modern yet tonal, and a rhythmic motion full of vitality and subtlety. Ravel associated as the chief exponents of French Impressionism within an intimate context of place and time. Aroha transported the audience into that time and place in a thoroughly satisfying concert.