Alma Moodie Quartet

Alma Moodie was an Australian violinist, born in 1898, who had a very successful career in Europe right up until her death in 1943. In fact her last recital was just three weeks before she died. Alma was a highly respected violinist and recitalist, mentored by Max Reger, regarded as an important interpreter of Brahms, and who also taught at the Hoch Conservatory. 

While we acknowledge other noted Australian musicians based in Europe over that same period, (think Eileen Joyce, Percy Grainger, Nellie Melba) Alma Moodie was forgotten until a group of musicians in Canberra decided to revive her memory and formed the Alma Moodie Quartet in 2021. 

Current members of the Quartet, Anna da Silva Chen and Beatrice Colombia, violins, James Wannan viola and Miles Millin-Chivers cello were joined by pianist Konstantin Shamray and Bass player Robert Nairn at Ukaria Cultural Center in a program which acknowledged some of the composers important to Alma Moodie’s career, as well as a composition by Olli Mustonen.

The program began with String Quartet no 3 by Bartok, which Anna da Silva Chen announced as being  sixteen minutes long, but which felt more like forty minutes for the musicians, being vigorous and demanding.

Then Stravinsky ’s Three Pieces for String Quartet followed, pieces. not movements, as there was no thematic connection.  The titles Danse, Excentrique and Cantique  give a clue as to the style of each piece, the first being like a rustic dance, the second an exploration of something quirky or grotesque. The final piece was an harmonious chant.

Pianist Konstantin Shamray, together with the violin, viola and cello then played Brahms Piano Quartet no 3 in C minor. This was, perhaps, the highlight of the concert, although the Max Reger String Quartet in F# minor came a very close second.

The final piece, Toccata, composed by Ollie Mustonen brought both Konstantin Shamray and bass player Robert Nairn back to join the Quartet. As the title suggests the music is energetic and free flowing, with the piano powerfully holding the quartet to account as the bass anchored the music with authority. It is not an easy piece to play, but these musicians were well up to the challenge.