Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Bartók, Ravel and Brahms at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York, US, on 9 December 2025
The Balourdet Quartet is an ensemble unafraid to show its personality, as its sold-out Carnegie Hall debut demonstrated. It began boldly with Bartók’s Third String Quartet, demonstrating tenacity and commitment from the off. There was so much fervour and spirit that the lack of hierarchy of line or occasional missed note was eclipsed by the players’ infectious enthusiasm. There’s no doubting the ensemble’s sheer virtuosity either.
Violinist Justin DeFilippis gave a personable and compelling talk before the group continued with Ravel’s sole Quartet, which was again given with personality and almost extreme characterisation, bringing alive its contrasts but also the subtlety of the work. The Très lent was almost unbearably intense but demonstrated the Balourdet is unafraid of risk-taking, while the Vif et agité finale was played with total exuberance.
The evening concluded with Brahms’s Third Quartet and the brisk tempo of the opening made way for a capacious second theme. The ensemble demonstrated slightly more refined playing with violinist Angela Bae taking the lead.
While the passion of the Andante was not in doubt, occasionally the accompaniment felt too intense; and if the transition to the recapitulation in the finale was a touch precious, it gave way to playing full of vivacity. The Balourdet gave two encores, of which an expertly performed movement by Paul Novak was most telling.
LEAH HOLLINGSWORTH
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