Centre Stage: Dvořák’s American Quartet, CBSO Centre, Birmingham | 05 June 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray

Photo credit: American Quartet Event-page

Centre Stage: Dvořák’s American Quartet

CBSO Centre, Birmingham | 05 June 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray

John Adams – John’s Book of Alleged Dances, Toot Nipple & Pavane: She’s So Fine

Jessie Montgomery – Strum

Dvořák – String Quartet No. 12 in F Major

“…rhythmically complex chord progressions over the top, with crisp unanimity: very impressive.”

‘Toot Nipple’ - not, as you might imagine, a party game(!) - but a piece of music by John Adams chosen to kick off this very enjoyable afternoon concert. Taken from Adams’ ‘John’s Book of Alleged Dances’, it is a demanding but exhilarating work.

‘Cellist, Arthur Boutillier delivered some fiendish passage work with effortless dexterity. The other players placed rhythmically complex chord progressions over the top, with crisp unanimity: very impressive.

The works that followed were all examples of a string quartet repertoire which require a totally collegiate approach. These are compositions where the players all get to have their moments in the sun, requiring complete awareness of - and connection to – their fellow players.

The second Adams’ piece - Pavane: She’s So Fine - is an organic work where the melodic line weaves in and out of the texture and gets shared equally around the ensemble. The quartet managed all of these handovers seamlessly and achieved a wonderful sense of easy lyricism.

Throughout the concert the playing was exceptionally tight, with all four instrumentalists matching each other perfectly in terms of presence. There was also a superb sense of depth and brilliance of tone.

Clearly, very careful attention had been paid to the way the sound not just balanced, but blended. When called for, Viola, Jessica Tickle, delivered a beautifully burnished upper register that soared through the texture, and one doesn’t always get that from a viola in the medium of the string quartet. Beautiful.

In Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, the rhythmic interplay was highly complex. Here the composer asks the players to effectively perform as one instrument; creating the impression of a strummed or plucked guitar. Again, Strum is a work where the melodic lines are shared around the players in a totally egalitarian manner. Again, this was done with great naturalness and ease.

A cornerstone of the string quartet repertoire, Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 was given a gorgeous outing to conclude the concert. All of the qualities that had been evident throughout the rest of this delightful concert were brought to bear in a well-shaped and highly polished performance. The Lento was particularly exquisite. Indeed, a perfectly contoured ebb and flow of emotional intensity: simply glorious.

The players clearly enjoyed performing together. Each communicated a deep and intimate connection - both to one another - and to the music they were playing. Outstanding.

Colette Overdijk – Violin

Georgia Hannant – Violin

Jessica Tickle – Viola

Arthur Boutillier - Cello