Mostly Monotonous
by piano47 on 11/22/15Freer Gallery - WashingtonI really wanted to like the Ariel Quartet, but with the exception of the second movement of the Tchaikovsky they were plagued by mis-played notes and very narrow dynamic range.
Classical
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I really wanted to like the Ariel Quartet, but with the exception of the second movement of the Tchaikovsky they were plagued by mis-played notes and very narrow dynamic range.
Consulate musicians. Impeccable taste. They made the music of three different centuries fully alive and its own. Wonderful commitment and spirit. I haven't been transported to this degree since seeing Ivan Moravic.
We didn't know what to expect. We had never been to a Japanese classical music concert like this before or anything like it. I knew what a shakuhachi was but none of the other instruments. Overall we really enjoyed it. The only parts we didn't really care for was the singing. It was very somber. The koto, shamisen and especially the shakuhachi were top performances. I would absolutely recommend it.
Lightbulb and the JACK Quartet, neo-gamelan orchestra teamed up with an avant-garde string quartet was a universe of rhythmic patterns. How do I know, because I was on the second row of the concert, my mind and ears were blown by the kaleidoscope of sounds, MIND BLOWING; Hydrogen(2)Oxygen was incredible, it was a world premier and the video and recording equipment were rolling, cannot wait to hear Hydrogen(2)Oxygen via media. When I left the Freer, I saw two huge trucks readied to haul all the musical instruments and recording gear. It was massive. There was an electronic component to Hydrogen(2)Oxygen, a Mac laptop controlled some aspects of the work. The Cage gave me contemplation, what was it like for the listeners of the work in 1950, the year it was composed, one year before my birth. In 2015, it was Cageian, but I enjoyed the intricacies of the Jack Q - They are a amazing set of talent. But Lightbulb and Jack kicked together into a wonderland I could live in heaven forever.
Music was exquisite and soprano piece was alright. These musicians are superb.
The concert at the Freer Gallery was truly lovely. Although it started with a well-known Mozart Quintet -- and it was played beautifully--the next two segments were the most unforgettable. Earl Kim's Three Poems in French were gorgeously sung by soprano Hyunah Yu, accompanied by a quartet of strings. It was wonderful to be introduced to a composition of such beauty that I had never heard of. The last piece was Gabriel Faure's Quartet for Piano and Strings in C Minor, op. 15. The players were marvelous, with Kuok-Wai Lio turning in an amazing performance on the piano. Once home, I ordered a CD of the quartet immediately, so I can hear it again soon. The only downside of these concerts is they always start about 15 minutes late, and the introductory talk takes too long and gives us details we don't need to hear, since we can read them in the program.
While the piano and bass were well served, the 21-year-old drummer was over the top. Way too loud and uninspiring. In fact, some folks actually moved to the side of the auditorium away from the drum side and others were seen to walk out before the performance ended
For lovers of jazz and world music, this is a show not to be missed.
Tarek is from Lebanon and the evening was billed as a jazz riff on pop Arab music from the 1950's. It was that, and much more. The trio, all skilled jazz musicians, created classic jazz improvisation and interaction. It was fabulous.
This event was a great opportunity to experience Japanese music and especially the shakuhachi flute as played by expert performers.