Classical string quartets are renowned for their longevity, but few have lasted as long as the Brodsky Quartet, founded in 1973. Violinist Iain Belton and cellist Jacqueline Thomas remain from the original line-up but violist Paul Cassidy is hardly an apprentice, having joined in 1982. Only violinist Krysia Osostowicz (joined 2021) can be considered a newbie, but she has many years of quartet experience behind her.
The Brodskys are known for their cross-genre collaborations, including with Elvis Costello and Björk, but this Kings Place concert was straight-ahead classical. Not everything was a major work, but the result was a pleasingly varied showcase. The largely wood-based architecture of Kings Place provides an acoustic that is lively and perfectly transparent, as if the players are right in front of you. That suits the Brodskys’ forthright, strongly accented style.
