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concert review: Ives Quartet
Jan. 31st, 2010 11:30 pmIf I couldn't get to New York to hear Henry Cowell, I at least could get to San Jose to hear the Ives Quartet and friends play Brahms's Op. 18 Sextet, which is just about my favorite of all chamber works by anybody.
Also on the program, Beethoven's Op. 127 Quartet.
Both could have been a lot more technically adept; I was surprised at the number of honkers from these people, who are usually better than that. Nevertheless the performances were enjoyable. Nice touch watching the cellists smile at each other while passing pizzicato notes back and forth at the end of Brahms's slow movement.
During intermission I heard a man behind me tell his companion a thunderously funny story about a famous conductor that I hadn't heard before. You can find it on the Internet, but I'm not going to point you at it; you'll have to let me tell it to you in person.
In other musical news: three library recordings, five books on the composer, and a photocopy of the score with scribbled comments all over it later, I feel like I've finally broken the back of that intimidating piece of music I was worried about last week. I still don't like it much, and I'll be peering at that score during the performance, but by gum at least I finally have some sense that the composer is actually saying something.
Also on the program, Beethoven's Op. 127 Quartet.
Both could have been a lot more technically adept; I was surprised at the number of honkers from these people, who are usually better than that. Nevertheless the performances were enjoyable. Nice touch watching the cellists smile at each other while passing pizzicato notes back and forth at the end of Brahms's slow movement.
During intermission I heard a man behind me tell his companion a thunderously funny story about a famous conductor that I hadn't heard before. You can find it on the Internet, but I'm not going to point you at it; you'll have to let me tell it to you in person.
In other musical news: three library recordings, five books on the composer, and a photocopy of the score with scribbled comments all over it later, I feel like I've finally broken the back of that intimidating piece of music I was worried about last week. I still don't like it much, and I'll be peering at that score during the performance, but by gum at least I finally have some sense that the composer is actually saying something.
