An enthusiastic audience enjoyed an excellent concert on November 29 at Benalla’s Town Hall.
This was presented by the Acacia Quartet, four outstanding musicians from regional NSW who formed their ensemble in 2010.
They have performed in Europe and Canada, as well as many venues in Australia.
The program featured three works, beginning with the delightful Sunrise string quartet by Joseph Haydn.
The opening theme is slow, with a chord, rising figure from the first violin, from which the sunrise name is derived, quickly turning into a brisk movement employing all four musicians playing separate parts but providing gorgeous ensemble work as a whole.
Harbour Light is a recent composition by Australia’s Nick Wales. It made an interesting interlude between the two major quartets on the program.
The quartet more than adequately brought out the composer’s aim to illustrate the shimmering of light on water, musically.
After a short interval came the very popular Ravel String Quartet, a relatively lengthy work in four movements.
Particularly enjoyed were the second and third movements — the former with plenty of energetic pizzicato by all players. The other, much slower, with shimmering strings to the fore.
A fascinating rendition of Waltzing Matilda made for a delightful encore to end the concert on a high note.
The acoustics of the old Town Hall were ideal for such a concert, and the musicians rose to the occasion with aplomb.
There is obviously a demand for performances of fine music in Benalla, and those present enjoyed every minute of this one.
We long for the days of Margaret Brooke and the many years of regular concerts at the Benalla Art Gallery.
It is to be hoped that this tradition might continue once the gallery has been reopened to the public.
Your correspondent happened to notice a lonely piano in a corner of the hall.
Some 40 years ago, the Benalla Arts Council purchased two upright pianos for the Town Hall — one being larger than most and to be used for concert performances, the other smaller piano designated for rehearsal or practice.
These pianos have been underutilised over the years and it would be great if they could be resurrected and used in concerts, particularly while the gallery piano is necessarily out of action.
– Alan Monger.
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