This concert featured the Schubertians, Maria Becker and Mary Anderson on violins, John Goodstadt on viola, Rosy Hickman and Paul Hickman on cellos and guest Sarah Snape on viola.
It was begun by Antony Brannick with a lively performance of Beethoven’s fresh, bright piano sonata (D major opus 28). Then the two cellists gave us duets by composers unknown to your reviewer. First came one from Friedrich Kummer’s no 1 suite, which began in a stately and serious mood and became more lively, and then the same composer’s arrangement of the slow ”Arioso” from Handel’s Water Music, a slow tune which worked very well for these instruments. Then two pieces by Sebastian Lee: the melodious opus 36 suite, and a toe-tapping “Rondoletto”.
The second half of the concert featured the whole sextet, who gave us a brilliant performance of Brahms’ string sextet no 2 (opus 36), which was like spring sunshine.
The next concert is to feature clarinet and harp and is on 22 February. Contact: abrannick@garrattslaw.co.uk or 0161 665 3502.