Date: Fri 01-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-14

Quick Words:

Quator-Parisii-Newtown-Friends

Full Text:

(rev of Quator Parisii, Ntn Friends/Music presentation, 12/1/95)

Concert Review-

Quartet Provides Reason For International Success

By June April

Envision an ancient wooden chair: beautiful to look at, smooth and sensual to

the touch. It has a long history of being experienced by others throughout

time, yet here and now it is a new and exciting personal perception.

That would be one way to describe how the Parisii Quartet "felt" and sounded

at the November 26 concert at Newtown's Edmond Town Hall. It was the second

concert of the season presented on behalf of the Newtown Friends of Music.

The quartet's name is derived from a courageous and enlightened Gallic tribe

called the "Parisii," who lived on an island somewhere around 200 BC. They

even had their own gold coinage when Julius Caesar "discovered" them. These

people burned their own city rather than be conquered by the Romans. It is

appropriate, then, that from this singularly special French legacy this

extraordinary quartet has drawn its cognomen.

Eleven years ago, these four prize-winning graduates of the Conservatoire

National Superieur de Paris formed the quartet. It has since skyrocketed to

international fame and acclaim.

With seven compact discs in great demand, the quartet has two more in the

making. Having won three major international competitions, Quator Parisii is

heavily booked throughout the world for concerts. Listening to the richness of

tone and unity of spirit, one can easily understand the universal success of

the quartet's performances.

The musicians' specialty is three periods of music - the 18th, 19th and 20th

Centuries. Acoustically sonorous, even when the music is not melodic, the

tonal quality is superior to any quartet this reviewer has ever experienced.

Opening Sunday afternoon's program with Quartet No. 4 by the prolific French

composer Darius Milhaud, the Parisii Quartet immediately established its

musical integrity and sensitivity. Polytonal harmonies are not easy for all

ears, but the performance of these four gentlemen created an immediate rapport

with the audience with their zest and skills. The third movement, "Tres

Anime," was reminiscent of the primal heartbeat aspect of Stravinsky's "Rite

of Spring."

The lyrical and intellectual music of Mozart served as a stimulating second

offering. Mozart often wrote his music "full-blown," directly from his genius

conception to paper, sans changes. It is said Mozart revised and labored over

his Quartet in G Major, K. 387 to perfect his homage to Haydn.

The influence of the great Haydn is strongly felt in the piece. Mozart had

begun again composing quartets in large measure because of his mutually

stimulating relationship with the older Haydn. The G Major was the first in a

series of ten quartets known as the "Great Ones."

One had to smile at another great musical gesture recalling Haydn's "Surprise

Symphony." At the end of the 4th Movement ( Molto allegro ), what appeared to

be the finale was not really the end of the quartet. After an appropriate

measure or two of "rest," came the truly final chords... surprising the

audience that had already started applauding.

The richly harmonic music of Cesar Franck closed a most memorable afternoon's

music. Themes wove in and out of movements and from instrument to instrument

in the Quartet in D Major . Listening to one of my favorite composers recalled

another music highlight in my life: an organ concert at Canterbury Cathedral.

Music floated around and through this reviewer, and the same sensorial

awareness was triggered by the Parisii Quartet's tones.

Speaking to the four gentlemen after the concert (the post-concert

opportunities to meet the performers is another plus to the Newtown Friends of

Music programs), one is delighted with the charm, intelligence and humor of

these four Frenchmen. Thierry Brodard and Jean-Michel Berrette are the

violinists, Dominique Lobet the violist and Jean-Philippe Martignoni the

cellist.

Their love of performing, augmented by their artistry, was a rapturous way of

experiencing beautiful music. The gift of that music will go on by the

purchase of several of the Parisii Quartet's compact discs, a most desired

holiday present.

Also a lovely holiday gift idea: For the first time in its 18 seasons, the

Newtown Friends of Music is offering a unique gift certificate, good for any

one of the concerts remaining in the 1995-96 season.

Designed and computer generated by Jim Hodsdon, with his wife Phyllis, a

long-time pillar of the NFoM, it is a gift that offers a hard choice, what

with the Bachmann-Klibonoff-Fridman Trio February 11, the dazzling pianist Mia

Chung on March 24, and the vibrant Shanghai Quartet April 14. It is a terrific

item for all ages to find in one's stocking or as one of a series of Hanukkah

gifts.