concert review: Alexander Quartet

[calimac]

I went to review the local farewell concert by a string quartet that is disbanding. (You can read here of the depressing reasons why.)

But this wasn't a depressing occasion, but a real celebratory one.

In the old days, I was never a big fan of the Alexander String Quartet, featured local artists though they were. I found their playing rather dull and dutiful. But gradually, over the years, I've heard them showing more grit and verve in their performances. This predated the recent changes in personnel, so that wasn't the reason, or the whole reason. I've come to appreciate them more.

This concert, though, was all grit and verve. Haydn, who's a witty composer, was all wit. Brahms, who's a mellow composer, was all mellow.

I particularly liked that Haydn. I've heard this particular piece several times at the Banff String Quartet Competition, home of truly spectacular performers. This performance would have been the highlight of a Haydn round at Banff.

The one other thing I can add that wasn't in the review is that the tiny hall was absolutely packed. Everybody wanted to say goodbye to this esteemed and loved ensemble.

Comments

[athenais]

What a shame. I always found them completely reliable, though only really interesting when they played Bartók or Kodály. But that's most likely because I like those composers' quartets an awful lot. I don't like the idea that a good chamber music group has so few resources for support.