91Èȱ¬

An all-female string quartet played a selection of lollipops in Hethersett Methodist Church, near Norwich.

The audience was treated to music by 14 composers in a free afternoon concert given in memory of Judith Evans, who died earlier this year.

Sian Evans

Judith - an accomplished pianist and cellist - was the mother of the viola player Sian Evans, a former member of the church, who has gone on to play in the English National Ballet orchestra and 91Èȱ¬ Symphony Chorus.

Judith conducted the Hethersett Choral Society and the church's choir.

It was appropriate, then, that Highly Strung's performance began from the organ loft with an arrangement of Lift Thine Eyes from Mendelssohn's Elijah.Ìý

The rest of the concert was given from the dais at the front of the church.Ìý

Touring ensemble

The Highly Strung String Quartet are a professional touring ensemble who formed 10 years ago in Nottingham.Ìý

They have performed in such diverse places as St Vincent in the West Indies, Tower Bridge in London as well as hotels and stately homes throughout the country.Ìý

Their programme continued with the second movement of Dvorak's Quartet no. 5 in F minor and moved on through Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus and Bach's Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring to a couple of more modern pieces: Irving Berlin's Cheek To Cheek and What A Wonderful World by Thiele and Weiss.Ìý

On the way, Emma Blanco entranced with the second movement of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, and was to the fore again in two extracts from Bizet's Carmen, with the latter's intermezzo ending with a perfectly found harmonic on the E string.Ìý

The largo from Bach's Concerto For Two Violins allowed violinist Elizabeth Croad to shine with Emma Blanco, with firm support from cellist Sarah Huson.

Subtleties conveyed

The ensemble throughout was well controlled, with many subtleties of dynamic and tempo.Ìý

Communication, in fact, was excellent, both within the quartet and out to the audience.Ìý

Brahms' Hungarian Dance no. 5 provided some fireworks, with the acoustics of the building adding to the volume - what a powerful sound two violins, a viola and a cello can make!Ìý

Tranquillity returned with the Highly Strung String Quartet's encore, Faure's Pie Jesu from his Requiem, one of Judith Evans's favourite pieces of music. A moving account which left some dabbing their eyes - and a fitting memorial.

A collection raised more than £204 for The Cinnamon Trust, a national charity for the elderly and their pets.

The Highly Strung String Quartet played at Hethersett Methodist Church on Sunday, 18 November, 2007.