Blake Allen

The past two months I have been able to go to two concerts given by the Brentano String Quartet and the Moscow String Quartet.

Brentano String Quartet
Haydn, Quartet in D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2 "Quinten"
Mendelssohn, Quartet in A Minor, Op. 13
Schumann, Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3

At first it was really difficult to get past the fact that the first violin and violist play very low against the body. Also, the first violin kept stomping his feet...whcih generally is not acceptable. Once the initial shock was over, the concert was rather enjoyable. Their best work on the program was Schumann. This is what stuck with me. The second movement of this was spectacular, and their energy was huge.

Their sound was also amazing, as was their intonation.

After the concert, I had the opportunity to go back stage and meet them. I must say that they are probably the most humble group of musicians I have ever met. The cellist mentioned how she forgot her clothes and shoes, so she borrowed some from the lady in the audience and the second violinst let her borrow a magenta top...when everyone else was wearing black. Every player was gracious and willing to stay and chat, which, as previously stated, just does not happen.












Moscow String Quartet
Borodin, Quartet No. 2 in D Major
Shostakovich, Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 108
Tchaikovsky, Quartet No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 30

It was great to hear a Russian quartet play Russian music. The Borodin was fantastic. Their rubatos were in perfect unison. Every bow stroke was in the same part of the bow and they moved at the same speed. Articulations across the board were precise. During the last movement, the cellist did something rather interesting. After the introduction, the cello begins a fugue like passage, but she played it as I have never heard it before...it was short, secco up bows at the frog. Talk about Russian!

The Shostakovich was intense...way intense...

The Tchaikovsky was a little long (as he typically is), but the middle two movements were very enjoyable, especially in the second movement. The energy was great coming from middle aged women. The intonation on this piece was not as precise as the other two, but the emotion was there which in the long is what matters. The third movement, funebre, was the highlight of the entire concert. Such rich, lavish sound.

The violist was SPECTACULAR!!