As Alison Wormell writes in their always-excellent program notes, “This concert draws together three composers who are considered at the forefront of their fields to present a ‘vanguard’ of string quartet writing.”

This is beyond doubt with Beethoven. But it’s perhaps not yet apparent with young Australian composer Harry Sdraulig, while Erich Korngold’s chief innovations were mostly in the field of film music.

Nevertheless, the three works on the program – Beethoven’s monumental String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat major Op.127, Sdraulig’s String Quartet No. 2 (here receiving its national premiere) and Korngold’s String Quartet No.2 in E-flat major, Op. 26 – comprise a formidable trio well-suited to the talents of the ASQ.

Australian String Quartet performs Vanguard. Photo © Kane Moroney

Certainly it proved so in this Perth concert, the first in the ASQ’s current tour, with violinists Dale Barltrop and Francesca Hiew, viola player Chris Cartlidge and cellist Michael Dahlenburg opening with a big, sinewy Beethoven before hitting the riveting Sdraulig head-on and getting (deliberately) über-schmaltzy with the Korngold. Such was the residual momentum from the Beethoven that the intervening intermission seemed a barely perceptible hiatus.

Beethoven’s String Quartet No....