Carducci String Quartet, Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury - review

An outstanding afternoon programme of music was performed by the internationally renowned Carducci String Quartet and clarinet virtuoso Julian Bliss, the second in their 'Inspired by Beethoven' Series. Playing to a packed crowd in the perfectly matched venue of the Adam Ballroom in Shrewsbury's Lion Hotel, the Carducci opened the concert with a sparkling performance of Beethoven's String Quartet in C minor.

These stylish musicians charmed eyes as well as ears with smiles and flourishes that befitted the spirit of the music. Invisibly weaving the intricate threads of each movement, the quartet took the audience to the edge of their seats, not for the first time, with a bravura gypsy rondo finale.

Julian Bliss has a reputation as one of the world's finest clarinettists and he left the audience in no doubt of that with an exquisite rendition of Weber's Clarinet Quintet, with its challenging range of dynamics and legato runs. This was chamber music of the highest order and the first half finished with resounding applause.

Opening after the interval in the same manner was an outstanding performance of Mozart's chamber masterpiece, his quintet for clarinet and strings.

Delivered with great joy and panache, this was a very tight unit of five world-class musicians who clearly enjoyed each others gifts and company, an enjoyment matched by their audience, who stamped and applauded for an encore.