BY LILY BRYANT
Writing in the last few months of his life, it’s likely Franz Schubert knew he would never hear his majestic String Quintet in C Major performed.
In the final months of 1828, the great composer was bedridden, having finished the most monumental works of his career. He had expressed fears that his long-term ill health was further deteriorating, showing signs of mercury poisoning. Five days before his death, he would be visited by a string quartet of friends, who would grant him a final musical wish and perform at his bedside. He would have been able to smell the rosin on the bows, witness the glances between the players, and feel the vibrations in the walls.
There is no question, then, that such a pillar of 19th Century chamber music would demonstrate the genre’s power when presented in the format it was designed for: up close and personal.
Cellist Zoe Wallace, who will perform Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major at the Primrose Potter Salon with sought-after Melbourne string quartet Quartz, agrees.
“Music from Schubert’s time was written for small spaces, that’s why the salon is so ideal. It’s the perfect chamber music venue,” Zoe says.
“In a bigger venue, you’re often on a stage and the audience is quite removed, whereas in the salon you can sort of feel the response from the audience as you’re playing, and you can sense their involvement.”
The performance is part of the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Intimate Salon Experiences 2024 series, which sees some of Australia’s most celebrated musicians deliver visceral concerts within arm’s reach of listeners, rather than be separated by a concert hall stage.
But as Zoe explains, it’s not only the audience who benefits from this closeness.
“I think we feel the intimacy of the space together,” she shares.
“When we’re performing, we can sort of read one another, both during the playing and in the spaces between the playing.
“You can see peoples’ faces when you enter and exit, and recognise friends in the audience and smile at people. It’s quite a different experience.”
Zoe’s ensemble Quartz, also comprising violinists Kathryn Taylor and Philippa West, and violist Merewyn Bramble, will be joined by guest cellist Rachael Tobin to perform Schubert’s infamous work.
“The second cello just adds so much richness and depth to the sound. It is one of the pieces that you just have on your wishlist as a cellist,” Zoe tells CutCommon.
“In the third movement, it just gives it this massive injection of bass power, but then to some of the more lyrical movements it adds the depth in a slightly different way.”
The salon itself is more than just an intimate venue: its acoustic capabilities offer musicians myriad opportunities to explore sound and timbre.
“It’s got a really warm and responsive sound, and you can adjust the acoustic which is a massive plus. They have these baffles that you can lower to absorb more of the sound if you want, or you can have it as is, and it’s just so well-designed with such a great acoustic.”
The Intimate Salon Experiences 2024 series at MRC sees artists from various musical backgrounds present recitals. Upcoming performances include appearances by Lior, Genevieve Lacey, and Vardos — but the venue’s capacity to harness connection will likely be a unifying element across the series.
“People really like the up close and personal. I think they really like to watch and feel a part of it.”
Experience Quartz – Schubert’s Cello Quintet at 6pm April 23 in the Primrose Potter Salon. View the full Intimate Salon Experiences 2024 series on the Melbourne Recital Centre website.
Image supplied.
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