Choral and Vocal
SPARKLING ART SONG AND PIANO SOLO RECITAL AT THE 222 GALLERY
by Pamela Hick Gailey
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Symphony
MOZART THE SUBLIME IN UKIAH SYMPHONY'S CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Symphony
POTENT TCHAIKOVSKY INTERPRETATION IN PHILHARMONIC'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY OPENER
by Terry McNeill
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Recital
SPANISH MUSIC AT SPRING LAKE VILLAGE
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Chamber
BRASS OVER BRIDGES AT SPRING LAKE SERIES
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
CALLEJA AND SANIKIDZE CHARGE THE ATMOSPHERE IN WEILL WITH SUMMER FAVORITES
by Pamela Hicks Gailey
Saturday, August 3, 2024
ENERGETIC SINGING IN CALLEJA/SANIKIDZE WEILL RECITAL
by Mark Kratz
Saturday, August 3, 2024
MUSICAL CALM IN A WORLD OF POLITICAL IDIOTS
by Terry McNeill
Friday, August 2, 2024
Chamber
SUNBEAMS ON THE FESTIVAL DEL SOLE FROM THE FAR NORTH
by Terry McNeill
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Chamber
A FAURE TO REMEMBER
by Terry McNeill
Thursday, July 25, 2024
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Juilliard String Quartet |
STERLING QUARTET MUSIC FROM THE JUILLIARD IN WEILL
by Terry McNeill
Friday, November 13, 2015
Mozart’s C Minor Quartet, K. 465, has had the sobriquet “dissonant” almost since its 1785 composition, but the word really doesn’t seem to apply. It’s a buoyant work, after an initial, deep melancholy and minor key clashes are overcome.
In their Nov. 13 Weill Hall concert the Juilliard String Quartet made the Mozart the evening’s cornerstone before an appreciative audience of 700 chamber music fans. All four movements received a reading of meticulous attention to attack, phrasing and instrumental balance. The opening Adagio-Allegro was played at a quick tempo (after the introductory musical pessimism) with an elegant cello line from long-time JSQ member Joel Krosnick. The featherweight ending led to a light vibrato plaintive Andante Cantabile movement in a sometime instrumental question and answer mode.
The finale had an impish quality and first violinist Joseph Lin played the big themes with vigor and a bright but never forced tone. The Juilliard played this from score, as they did the entire program.
Beginning the first half was Schubert’s Quartettstatz (D. 703), a one-movement curiosity that in its ten-minute playing time might benefit with additional sections, but this performance stood well on its own. The opening swelling tremolos in all four instruments gave way to conciliatory themes and slimmed down (for Schubert) and often clipped phrases. The string blend was pure and beguiling.
Debussy’s single quartet from 1893 comprised the entire second half, and of course all was in order for this seasoned ensemble. Atmospheric beauty was present throughout the four movements, and the harmonic territory of the Andantino, doucement expressif and the pizzicato writing in the second movement must have been novel when the piece was first heard. The plucking was almost shimmering. There was never any hurry to get anywhere in this performance, and in the Andantino violist Roger Tapping played beautifully, giving and taking back a rich theme with Mr. Lin. In places the string vibrato was deftly adjusted to heighten contrast. It was a shaded and subdued playing, a watercolor of sound.
Clean lines were heard in the finale, despite the richness of the writing and the chaste fugato from Mr. Krosnick that leads upwards to the ostinato lines of his three colleagues. The captivating Debussy brought a standing ovation and Mr. Lin announced one encore, the third movement from Schubert’s D Minor Quartet, “Death and the Maiden.” This Scherzo is a wild dance that demands quick virtuosity at every turn, but this sterling group was its master as they were throughout the concert.
Nicki Bell contributed to this review.
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