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Charlotte Gardner visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 27 April 2026 for the performance of Clara Schumann and Schubert
Gut-stringed Romanticism from the young period-instrument Consone Quartet: this was a Monday lunchtime Wigmore Hall programme that promised much. It paired Clara Schumann’s Three Romances – rearranged from the violin originals by Solem Quartet first violinist Amy Tress – with Schubert’s ‘Rosamunde’ Quartet, written in 1824 when the 27-year-old composer was coming to terms with contracting syphilis.
It took a moment or two for the Consone to establish a firm handle on the First Romance’s triple-time pulse, but settle it eventually did, with the gut strings a nice fit for its husky warmth. The first two Romances had some balance and blending issues, and a slight stickiness to the momentum, but this lessened for the Third, perhaps aided by the textures being less tightly woven. The other constant ingredient in all three pieces is heart, and perhaps the artists just needed longer to get the music under their fingers.
The ensemble balance in the Schubert was slightly bottom-heavy, and first violinist Agata Daraškaitė’s tone and intonation were not always comfortable (perhaps owing to the amount she was moving her instrument?). Still, it was a treat to hear such sparing, judicious use of vibrato in this music, and the finale had a lovely swing.
This didn’t feel quite like the gifted Consone’s best. However, that simply makes me all the keener to hear this thoughtful foursome again soon.
CHARLOTTE GARDNER
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