Review: Akoka Quartet

WHAT: Akoka Quartet

WHERE: Rotorua Concert Chamber

WHEN: Friday April 20

The Concert Chamber audience on Friday night was privileged to hear the Akoka Quartet, an ensemble of outstanding merit.

This is a newly formed piano trio and clarinet group of young New Zealanders based in England. They confirmed their technical assurance and finesse in a programme of three dissimilar French works. Milhaud's Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano has a mixture of styles and the players nicely brought out its essential Frenchness.

In Faure's Piano Trio there was flair, too, for the way in which lyricism and a feeling of striving were harmonised.

Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, is remarkable for the ways it expresses profound spiritual feelings through unusual musical modes.

Each player in Akoka used their solo opportunities to show their own first-rate musicianship, but the playing as a whole was sublime.