★★★★½ A very French finish to Musica Viva’s 70th-birthday year.

October 8, 2015
Queensland Conservatorium

There was French cuisine, French chatter and French singing in the Queensland Conservatorium Foyer on Thursday night, in celebration of the Modigliani Quartet’s visit to Brisbane for their first solo tour of Australia with Musica Viva. As the final chamber music group touring with Musica Viva in its 70th year, the Modigliani Quartet wrapped up the party in the most appropriate birthday celebration spirit: with joyfulness, exuberance and warmth. Founded in Paris in 2003, the group has cemented their reputation as one of the world’s top string quartets, and their effortless and relaxed but seamless style was most welcome to their enthusiastic audience.

Unfortunately, the quartet’s usual cellist, François Kieffer, injured his shoulder just ten days before the commencement of the tour, requiring a last-minute substitute cellist to step in and fill the void. Renowned French virtuosic cellist, Christophe Morin, fills in admirably under such short notice, and the change does not diminish the pleasure of hearing from such a remarkable group of musicians.

Haydn’s String Quartet No 36 in B Flat major was the first of the evening’s delightful offerings. From the lightness of the...