The Goldner String Quartet has been an audience favourite at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music at every festival, except one, which they were unable to attend, during their 29 years performing together.

Just before their performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581 in this year’s Festival Coda concert, the quartet mounted the stage and cellist Julian Smiles announced that 2024 marks their 30th year as an ensemble, and their last. The Quartet will disband at the end of their 2024 season, a highlight of which will be their role as quartet-in-residence at the Townsville Festival.

Smiles said that “you lot” had chosen the Clarinet Quintet as their “all-time favourite” chamber music piece, so it seemed fitting to play it following their announcement.

Clarinettist, Matthew Hunt, joined them, and, together, they gave a performance of such rare quality, it surely must be seen as the “all-time” definitive reading of the work, anywhere on the planet.

Dimity Hall and Julian Smiles, Goldner String Quartet. Photo © Andrew Rankin

Mozart’s sublime writing was more than matched by the sublime playing by this ensemble, especially in the 2nd movement, Larghetto, which even saw Hunt...