If Festivals are supposed to inspire, then Brighton Festival's outing to Glyndebourne inspired in spades.
Mind you, the Alban Berg Quartet have had 30 years experience of music making from which to inspire, and they are the masters. The music played was by Haydn, Beethoven and Lutoslawski.
The known quantity was Beethoven, his Opus 132 quartet dating from 1825. It is a majestic, sonorous and at times acerbic work but this is Beethoven at his best and the Bergs gave it a rapturous interpretation which was intense, intimate, intense and yet grand at the same time.
The surprise and the fireworks were in the Lutoslawski quartet which dates from 1964 when he was at his most prolific. It is a chancy piece in performance which left a great deal to the players' sense of drama. Here the Bergs triumphed. Sure you had to pay attention but there was no way you could be bored.
The quality of a string quartet comes with experience. The Bergs are all in their late 50's and early 60's and listening to them play was like eavesdropping on the small, intimate signs given by old married couples. Great stuff.
Glyndebourne, Lewes, Sunday
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