Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin

Schubert – String Quintet in C

"Schubert," said Monica Huggett, director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, "had a particular sound in his head when he composed this piece." The sound in his head was the violins and other string instruments of his day. Strung with sheep-gut, their tone quality was very different from that of today's synthetic-stringed or steel-stringed instruments.

Huggett and her IBO Chamber Soloists play on gut-strings and with a mission to give historically-aware performances of repertoire from the 16th and 17th centuries. This made it extra interesting on Sunday to hear them straying into the 19th century and one of the most-loved of all chamber music pieces, but in search of the sound in Schubert's head rather than with the modern sound we are invariably used to with romantic repertoire.

It wasn't a subtle difference, it was huge. The tone was brighter and firmer, giving a kind of searing brilliance to Schubert's so-familiar melodies and counter-melodies. Unlike some of the adventures in fast tempos which the early-music movement has embarked on with Baroque repertoire, here the speeds were similar to what you'd expect from modern-instruments ensembles.

In terms of playing style, what was very different, was the light use of vibrato, bringing extra clarity through- out, notably where Schubert sets up contrast between a higher quartet – two violins, viola and cello – and a lower one – violin, viola and two cellos. Huggett is a star, and her young solo- ists embrace her energy and appetite. This was one of those occasions when the Hugh Lane filled up quickly and many were turned away.