One of the many highlights of this year's Tenby Arts Festival was the Evening of Chamber Music at St. Nicholas and St. Teilo Church, Penally, on Tuesday, September 20. Those taking part were the Mezin String Quartet; Rebecca Whitehurst and Joanne Underwood (violins), James Walker (viola) and Kyle Patterson (cello). They were joined by John Mitchinson (tenor) and Sharron Lusher (piano), together with Francesca Kay (poet). The formation of the Mezin String Quartet three years ago was a welcome development on the local musical scene, making possible frequent performances of major works in the chamber music repertoire. The concert began with Beethoven's String Quartet in C minor, Op.18, a dramatic work in which the composer decisively moves away from the Viennese chamber music tradition of Haydn and Mozart. The four movements contain unexpected dissonances, sudden dynamic contrasts and changes of tempo reminiscent of the 'Eroica' Symphony. The distinguished Welsh composer Mervyn Burtch was present for the first performance of his new work 'The Green Isles of the Ocean' set to music for tenor and piano quintet, with words by the poet Francesca Kay. In a pre-concert talk, Francesca re-told the story on which the work is based. This was interspersed with musical examples. This Pembrokeshire legend tells of the adventures of Gruffydd ap Einon as he searched for, found and befriended the Children of Rhys the Deep, who lived on the Green Isles of the Ocean. The music is in six movements, depicting the various stages of the story. This was a vivid and beautifully crafted setting of an enchanting text. After the interval, the quartet returned to play Ravel's String Quartet in F major. This is a large scale work which shows the influence of both Debussy and Faure. It also demonstrates Ravel's remarkable ability to convert something of the richness of his large scale orchestral works to the chamber music genre. This is particularly noticeable in the power and range of the instrumental writing and the harmonic language. The church was filled to capacity for this remarkable concert. The programme planning was inspired and the fine performances demonstrated the artistry, virtuosity and scholarship of everyone who took part. As the audience left the church at the end, Carmarthen Bay was bathed in moonlight. Somehow this sight provided an appropriate postscript to a magical musical evening.
J.H.