Saturday was all clouds and fog. Not really a good day for photographs. Would the fog lift in the evening? I went to the Pavel Haas Quartet concert at the Academy of Performing Arts in the evening to find out. Hailed by the Times early last year as "The world's most exciting string quartet", I went with great expectations.
Two young ladies in evening gowns and two young men in black came out: Veronika Jaruskova (violin), Eva Karova (violin), Pavel Nikl (viola) and Peter Jarusek (Cello). They played for us Claude Debussy's String Quartet in G minor Op 10 in four movements in Animé et très decidé, assez vif et bien rythmé, Andantino, doucement expressif and Très modéré. It was Debussy's first attempt at the traditional traditional quartet format. As he was Debussy, it wasn't just an ordinary quartet. It was full of the kind of half tones for which he was famous for in his later compositions and full of a new kind of rhythm with his characteristic ear for unusual harmonies. It has a very distinctive motif which was repeated many times but had some completely new musical texture and rhythm to it. The piece really required some energy. The performance was not bad but nothing to rave about. I did not detect the kind of passion in the play that the Times wrote about. Perhaps it was the fog. It may have affected everyone, young musicians not excluded.
The second part of the concert was Schubert's String Quintet in C in Allegro ma non troppo, , Adagio, Schezo (Presto) -Trio (Andante sostenuto) and Allgeretto Finale, a much more "traditional" piece. In this piece, they had an additional guest cellist Danjulo Ishizaka. It had two very contrasting themes and some fairly abrupt changes of mood. I do not know why, the addition of the new cellist seemed suddenly to infuse life into the play of the quartet and the kind of passion the Times talked about returned.They were back in form! As an encore, they repeated one of the passages they played. The fog had lifted, in the end!
Glad that the fog had lifted in the end! Thanks for your sharing!
回覆刪除[版主回覆02/27/2012 08:08:23]I was a bit disappointed at the intermission. I was so glad the quartet seemed to have regained its verve after it. It's always a joy to share.
Hi El Zorro, I attended their friday performance & it was GREAT! especially the Tchaikovsky string quartet.
回覆刪除[版主回覆02/28/2012 05:47:42]Concerts are something very unique. A lot depends on the mood of the musicians. There can be good days and there can be bad days. And even good and bad first and second halves! I was lucky they picked up after the intermission. You were lucky throughout.
I attend the Friday one, though facing the back of the first violin, I can feel she is very into the works. And I like the layout of the apa amphitheatre.
回覆刪除[版主回覆02/29/2012 23:23:52]Glad you enjoyed it so much!