30/05/2026
STRINGS BESIDE THE SEA:
St Petersburg String Quartet Captivates Hermanus Audience
by David Wilson
The Municipal Auditorium in Hermanus provided a fitting setting on Sunday afternoon, 24 May, for an outstanding performance by the internationally acclaimed and Grammy Nominated St Petersburg String Quartet, presented under the banner of OAK (Overstrand Arts/Kunste).
With the late autumn light fading softly outside and the sea air lingering over the town, the programme unfolded with a sense of warmth, reflection and emotional depth that seemed perfectly matched to a Sunday afternoon in Hermanus.
Founded in 1985 as the Leningrad String Quartet, but changing its name when the city returned to its historic name, the now US based ensemble has developed into one of the world’s most respected chamber groups. Comprising Alla Aranovskaya (1st violin), Ned Kellenberger (2nd violin), Boris Vayner (viola) and Sascha Groschang (cello), the quartet brought not only technical mastery to the stage, but also the deep musical understanding that comes only from decades of performing together.
The carefully balanced programme moved through contrasting emotional landscapes while still retaining a remarkable sense of cohesion. Ravel’s luminous textures and subtle impressionistic colours opened musical spaces that felt at once intimate and expansive, while Brahms brought warmth, richness and emotional gravity. Glazunov introduced a lyrical Romanticism rooted deeply in the Russian tradition, before the music of Shostakovich added darker undercurrents and moments of tension, reminding listeners how chamber music can speak both personally and historically.
What made the afternoon especially memorable was the way these composers seemed to converse across generations. The programme never felt like a collection of separate works, but rather a journey through changing moods, textures and emotional states. There were moments of delicacy and restraint followed by passages of intensity and dramatic force, yet throughout the concert the quartet maintained a remarkable clarity of ensemble and tonal balance.
Particularly moving was the inclusion of Ravel, whose later years were overshadowed by progressive neurological illness that eventually robbed him of memory and communication. Near the end of his life, friends took him to a concert where one of his own works was performed. Deeply moved, he reportedly sat in tears before quietly asking, “This is beautiful. Who wrote it?” When told that it was his own music, the tragedy and beauty of artistic legacy seemed painfully intertwined. Listening to Ravel’s music performed with such sensitivity in Hermanus carried something of that poignancy.
The audience responded warmly throughout the afternoon, clearly appreciating not only the technical brilliance of the quartet but also the emotional sincerity of the performance. In a town increasingly recognised for its vibrant cultural life, concerts such as this continue to demonstrate the important role that live chamber music plays within the Overstrand arts community.
On a cool Sunday afternoon beside the sea, the St Petersburg String Quartet offered Hermanus something rare: music that invited listeners not merely to hear, but to reflect, remember and feel.
