The story has long been told through Melbourne musical circles. Some 40 years ago, a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra subscription concert was attended by an average audience. The visiting American soprano had not generated any additional ticket sales. Those fortunate enough to be present were rewarded by a performance of surpassing quality. The soprano? It was none other than Jessye Norman, whose recent death has been mourned worldwide. Needless to say, subsequent Melbourne performances by the diva were sold out.

Quatuor Ébène. Photo © Julien Mignot

This concert by Quatuor Ébène, I hope, will go down in the annals of Melbourne’s musical history as another “Jessye Norman” moment. Comfortably spread out across the stalls of Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, the smallish but attentive and enthusiastic audience was treated to a trio of Beethoven string quartets delivered with the most extraordinary energy, insight and sensitivity as any music lover could hope to hear in the world today.

Celebrating Quatuor Ébène’s 20 anniversary, these young French players are in the midst of a project celebrating next year’s Beethoven anniversary by touring the world performing the entire corpus of the composer’s quartets. They are making live recordings along the...