Review | A ‘Death and the Maiden’ for the ages from Esmé Quartet in their dazzling Hong Kong recital debut – with a stand-in violist

Young South Korea-born women and local stand-in violist Born Lau dazzled with the brilliance of their playing and the depth of their musical insight

Their buoyancy, tenderness and fire in Haydn’s ‘The Joke’ gave way to a romantic sound for Borodin; to Schubert’s famous work they brought energy and precision

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The Esmé Quartet with stand-in violist Born Lau receive the applause of the audience in the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall during their recital as part of the 51st Hong Kong Arts Festival. Photo: courtesy of HKAF

Published: 6:45pm, 2 Mar 2023

“Dazzle” is a cringeworthy title for a world-class chamber music recital, especially when Schubert’s emotionally charged “Death and the Maiden” quartet is the main feature.

Fortunately, the award-winning Esmé Quartet showed deep insight into the music as well as dazzling the audience with their brilliance in their Hong Kong Arts Festival concert on February 28.

Superb artistry and near flawless intonation marked the Esmé’s performance of three quartets – the others were by Haydn and Borodin.

It was a pity that the young quartet of four South Korea-born female musicians gave their debut recital in Hong Kong without violist Kim Ji-won, because of “unforeseeable personal circumstances”, but the show went on nonetheless, and local violist Born Lau proved a very worthy stand-in who showed strong musicianship of his own.

This was clear from the very outset. The fabulous buoyancy from second violinist Ha Yu-na and violist Lau in the opening of the Allegro moderato movement of Haydn’s String Quartet in E-flat major was a delight. It was played with joy and unity.