Dunwald Ensemble at the Menuhin Room

Dunwald Ensemble, Menuhin Room, Portsmouth, Feb 1

Dunwald Ensemble is a new name but the more gimlet-eyed among the Menuhin Room faithful would have recognized a few familiar faces among their number.

Woodwind and brass, I sometimes think, are like character actors - the lithe oboe, the dignified French horn, the stout bassoon and the cheery clarinet all here meant as characteristics of the instruments rather than the instrumentalists, you understand.

Mozart's Quintet, KV 452, was led off by Karen Kingsley's piano, taking at least an equal role in proceedings and not as continuo support. The Larghetto was then pacific in tone, the theme shared democratically among Helen Matthews's serene oboe, Rob Blanken's lyrical clarinet, Rob Eckett's soulful bassoon and John Peskett's eloquent horn on a day when the horde of adjectives had to be thoroughly mined. But Mozart's merry joie de vivre in the Rondo gladly meant that one phrase fitted all.

David Barlow's Soliloquy for clarinet and piano was perhaps Mornington Duo more than Dunwald Ensemble but, What's in a name? That which we call musicians by any other name would sound as poignant. It was brief and crepuscular, the more evocative for the story of it coming about from musical notes first put down in 1953.

Beethoven had a very good year last year and he continues into 2025 featuring prominently in three of the four concerts I've been to so far. 12 years later than the Mozart, the lesser musicologists among us might easily have been lulled into a misattribution by its similar tapestry of different musical fabrics. The first movement being Grave-Allegro ma non troppo was soon convivial, the Andante Cantabile even more like the younger man in clothes borrowed from his precursor but with each part given a little solo spot as if we'd found ourselves in a jazz club. The Rondo was finally buoyant and boyish if not quite boisterous, with a long trill from Karen announcing the finesse of a finish.

It was great to see the Menuhin Room so well attended for such a happy occasion, a rare opportunity to enjoy this exotic blend of instuments which still has flute to be added, I believe. It's a lot of fun as long as one is not blown away by it or left breathless.