Post-graduates of Birmingham Conservatoire Stella Hartikainen and Erika Lindgren (violins), Helen Lancaster (viola) and Emma Capp (cello) formed the Nero Quartet in 2001.

To encourage these young musicians, Malvern Concert Club gave them an opportunity to perform.

With Haydn, Schumann and Ravel on the programme, varied styles of music were promised. String Quartet in A minor, Op.41 No.1 by Schumann was most successful. The cellist's repeated monotone introduced, succeeded by the first violin's wistful melody, followed closely in canon by each of the other instruments. Within this opening movement exchanges continued and considerable expressive colour was achieved. The third, a slow movement, was notable for the glorious melodic line which emerged from superb cello arpeggio figures. By the time the energetic finale was reached some ragged ensemble had crept in.

After a tentative start, Haydn's Quartet in B flat major, Op.50 No.1 settled down to a bright and cheerful delivery. Variations of the second movement were clearly defined especially when pulsating strings accompanied the melodious first violin and rapid inserts sounded by the beautiful cello.

Quartet in F by Ravel generated some lovely melodic episodes by the viola in the first and third movements and by the first violin also, as it soared in the third. Fine cello playing enhanced the third and all joined in the tempestuous finale of a work which had proved difficult to articulate the individuality of the composer with conviction.

JILL HOPKINS