Goldner String Quartet Marks Farewell with 30th Anniversary Performance

The Goldner String Quartet delivered an emotional farewell performance at the Snow Concert Hall in Red Hill on September 28. Founded in 1995 and named after Richard Goldner, the founder of Musica Viva Australia, the group celebrated its 30th anniversary with this poignant concert. All original founding members performed together: Dene Olding and Dimity Hall on violin, Irina Morozova on viola, and Julian Smiles on cello.

The evening’s program featured a trio of masterworks from the string quartet repertoire. The concert opened with Robert Schumann’s “Quartet No. 3 in A major, Op.41 No. 3,” a piece composed in 1842, making it the final string quartet Schumann wrote. This was followed by the “Quartet No. 3” by Australian composer Carl Vine, composed in 1994, and Franz Schubert‘s renowned “Quartet in C minor D810, Death and the Maiden,” from 1824, concluded the main program.

Critical acclaim followed the Quartet’s performance, noted particularly for their exquisite play and interpretive depth. The Schumann finale was highlighted as especially well-executed, showcasing their expertise, as was the famous third movement of Schubert’s quintet. Carl Vine’s work was noted for an electrifying performance which resonated with the audience.

The ensemble returned for an encore, performing the second movement of Antonín Dvořák’s “American Quartet.” This piece, with its intricate and lush melody, served as a fitting closure for a commemorative event.

Throughout the concert, violinist Dene Olding provided background context and insights into each piece performed, interspersed with his characteristic dry humor. He humorously suggested that despite this being Canberra’s farewell concert, the quartet might “do a Nellie Melba,” alluding to the legendary opera singer known for her repeated farewells.

The quartet’s performance not only celebrated their three decades of musical collaboration but also marked a significant and reflective stage in their illustrious careers.