Review: Young Composers - Humph Hall, 10 July 2010 The auspicious debut of the Acacia Ensemble at Humph Hall, Allambie Heights on Saturday afternoon July 10 suggests a very welcome addition to Sydney and especially Manly-Warringah's cultural menu. A clever 'first concert' program of 'first' string quartets by the young Mozart, Mendelssohn and Rachmaninov spanned a broad stylistic range from mid-18th century early Classical to late 19th century high Romantic. Exemplary standards of technical assurance, musical understanding and (so early in a quartet's development) a sense of a corporate 'sound' and personality did not surprise in that the group comprises Australians and Australian-resident German and American musicians of broad achievement throughout Europe and the USA prior to thier current links to leading Australian orchestras. Hopefully many more programs from Acacia in future, perhaps as 'quartet in residence' at the very successful venue of Humph Hall, and perhaps a further role looking north to Pittwater before more travelled triumphs. Robert Harris |