Classical Music Thread

[microrobert]

[de Burgh II]

[de Burgh II]

[Sveta]

Goose bumps, goose bumps everywhere!

[Svipdag]

I just returned from a performance at Music mountain in Falls Village, CT, by the Blair String Quartet: Christian Teal, violin; Cornelia Heard, violin; John Kochanowski, viola; and Felix Wang, 'cello; with Melvin Chen, piano in the last work.

The program consisted of String Quartet in G Major, Opus 77,#1, by Franz Joseph Haydn; String Quartet in D-Major, Opus 44, #1, by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy; and Piano Quintet #1 (1923) by Ernst Bloch.

The viola part in the Haydn is almost impossible to hear, as if Herr Viola were struggling to get a word in edgewise. There was never any question as to who was leading the ensemble. All the real melodies were given to the first violin.

The Mendelssohn quartet is much better written. Instead of merely filling in the harmony, the second violin seems to comment on the first violin part. All four voices are given substantial music and make major contributions to the totality of the performance. The finale, Presto con Brio is breathtaking.

Only one adjective is appropriate to describe the Bloch piano Quintet: INTENSE ! And this intensity is sustained throughout three movements: Agitato (WELL named), Andante mistico, and Allegro (very) energico. In fact, the internsity is, at times, nearly painful.
The audience gets little chance to catch its breath, being swept from one high to another. This performance of this Quintet was ineradicably memorable.

[microrobert]

[de Burgh II]

Classical music truly is a gift from the heavens. Genre of music that is very undermined and not appreciated enough for what it truly is. Very uplifting in its own right.

[hisn]

[hisn]

[microrobert]