All hail the New Quartet in Town !

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a concert given by the Brentano String Quartet. They presented Haydn’s Opus 20, Number 5 Quartet, did a world premiere of Charles Wourinen’s 4th string quartet, and concluded with Beethoven’s Opus 131 quartet. What a show.

First, the Haydn was very well done, though perhaps a bit too sunny in parts for this minor key work. They projected a very rich, modern sound as well, and were, if anything, too animated and intense for late 18th Century chamber music. That written, very well done.

The new work by Wourinen was exceptional. Unabashedly modern music, but strangely accessible. (Keep in mind I rather enjoy works by Carter and Boulez, so my idea of accessible may not be yours.) It’s a one movement beauty with all sorts o’ quartet tricks – pizzicato potions, unison playing, mad flourishes, ppp, fff – On me, Oh my. Quite enjoyable. Not everyone in the audience was as pleased, but they were there for the Beethoven.

And what a show they got. The quartet started off a little unsatisfying, but things improved dramatically within a minute or so. The fourth movement was exquisitely rendered. The Presto almost received an ovation itself. No foolin’. And they concluded perfectly. Overall, a great performance. Perhaps not the finest ever performed, but better than most I’ve heard.

I anxiously await either another performance by them or some recordings. Or both. I encourage all who may read this thread to hear this quartet if possible.

[This message was edited by Todd Arola on TUESDAY 10 July 2001 at 16:11.]