The Martinu String Quarter, feat. Christopher Langdown, Basingstoke Concert Club, Trinity Methodist Church, October 11

WHEN the nights draw in and the leaves turn autumnal colours, it is time for the Basingstoke Concert Club season to commence.

The audience of both regular and new faces at Trinity Methodist Church took their seats for the first concert of the season, kindly sponsored by BCOT.

The Martinu String Quartet specialise in music by their native Czech composers - some of whom were included in this recital. The group came together in 1976 when, as four young musicians, they were studying at the Conservatoire in Prague.

The recital opened with String Quartet No. 2 written by their namesake, Bohuslav Martinu.

I found this piece full of texture and atmosphere. The theme of the first movement was described in the programme notes as a "winding" motif and there is no better way to describe it.

The second movement had a rather funereal opening, full of slow, low notes. In contrast, the last movement was quite jolly.

The American Quartet Op.96 by Dvorak was delightful. Dvorak spent the years from 1892 to 1895 in the USA and, like his famous New World Symphony, this piece captured the essence of the country.

The second movement is said to reflect an element of homesickness and there was a definite longing in the violins.

The third movement had a very American feel, while the final rondo is probably the most familiar movement in the piece.

After the interval, the quartet played a piece that was completely new to me - Coventry: A Meditation for Strings, by Vilm Tausky, a soldier involved in clearing the bomb damage that destroyed the cathedral in the Second World War. It was played with such sensitivity that I was totally mesmerised by its beauty.

The last piece on the programme was Elgar's Piano Quintet in A Minor Op 84. The quartet were joined by pianist Christopher Langdown.

The second of the three movements, the Adagio, features one of Elgar's finest themes and its serenity was particularly well portrayed by the cello.

The Martinu Quartet (left) are four talented musicians who gave a wonderful performance. It was a great pleasure to hear chamber music played so well.

The next Basingstoke Concert Club recital takes place on November 15, at 7.30pm, and is their Rising Star concert featuring the young clarinettist Julian Bliss, who stole the hearts of the nation when he played at the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations concert at Buckingham Palace last year. Tickets are available from the Haymarket box office.

This season, for the first time, Basingstoke Concert Club is able to offer free tickets for those aged 22 and under, provided they are in full-time education. The club is indebted to the Cavatina Trust for its support in this venture.

Tickets for all Concert Club events are available from the Haymarket on 01256 465566.