Keller Quartet Tickets

The Keller is a fine quartet, and was in good form for this sampling of three generations of Russian composers. I have studied the scores and heard other performances of these works; and -- I am a composer-- so my reactions are perhaps a bit more severe than the casual concert-goer, although I never doubt the capacity of the LOC audiences to love music and adore the musicians who play it. I congratulate the group for bringing out the Schnittke quartet #3: it is demanding, forward-looking, and not the ear-pleasing fare aimed at pleasing most middle-of-the road audiences. Their rendering of this work was most effective when encountering quasi-tonal sections, or those sections courting roaming tonalities. They were more ill-at-ease with the composer's abstractions, but the effort was holistic, exciting and well worth the listen. They were excellent at portraying Shnittke's rhythmic virtuosity. This composer is in my opinion one of the greatest and most prolific in the history of Russian music, and should be urged more and more into the mainstream repertoire. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed Shostakovich's 8th quartet. Many performances sound dry, and the score shows very little spark to my eyes except for the energized second movement. But the Keller was definitely in their element here, bringing out a wealth of color and nuance that left a lasting impression. I have to wonder why it is never said that the composer lifted the principal motif from Bach's fugue in g minor (WTC Book I).. yes! i know about the musical carving of initials,etc.. but.. hey! ... take a listen to both.. Shostakovich just augments the rhythm, and has the audacity to make it an opening stretto ---akin to a fugal opening! That's at least worth a mention, yes? The Tchaikovsky #1 was well-done, demonstrating the group's kinship with the Russian flare for sonorous color and rhythmic intensity. I like this composer's works for strings (especially his Serenade for Strings!).. i digress. Individually, the players are fine. The cellist is playing a wonderful instrument --one can't escape hearing its impressive voice from the open C to three octaves up the A-string as is called for at the conclusion of the second movement of the Shnittke ! (A hateful caveat: one wonders at times if the voice of that instrument is too big for the group!--nonetheless she is unquestionably an impressive and emotive musician) . The violist--also impressive- I think needs to position himself more towards the audience. HIs playing is impeccable and should not be lost in the mix. The second violinist is an example of one who plays their part excellently -- never heard too much or too little. She knows and enjoys her job.. a blessing for any ensemble. The first violinist is impressive in moments of romantic abandon, getting a warm tone and carving out impressive melodies. He does, however, take some liberties with the score, as in the very opening of the Shnittke, and seems to be content at times to outline a melody minus the precise rhythmic delineations.

The Keller Quartet concert program (Schnittke, Shastakovich and Tchaikovsky) was awesome as was the quartet's take on the pieces, if a bit romantic. One of best, if not the best, concert I've heard in more than a year.