Concert Review—

Talich Quartet Offered An Auspicious Opening For NFoM Season

By June S. April

In the mid-1990s the torch was passed to the younger generation of outstanding musicians. Today, some 30 plus years since its founding in 1964,  the name of the Talich Quartet burns as brightly as ever and continues to carry on the reputation of excellence that has been established worldwide.

A lucky Newtown audience witnessed a performance by the quartet last Sunday afternoon in what was the opening concert for the 2005-06 series sponsored by Newtown Friends of Music.

This Prague-based ensemble has a full schedule of performing and recording and they are booked for the next two years, with their next visit to the United States in March of 2007.  The range of their music embraces the heralded masters — Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Schubert — as well as the great composers of  their Czechoslovakia.

They also perform the works of contemporary composers on their truly exquisite instruments.  The son of the founder of the quartet, Jan Talich (junior), plays on a beautiful violin, an 1845 Vuillaume.  Matching the elegance of tone is Petr Macecek’s Ruggieri violin. The richness of sound emanating from Vladimir Bukac’s Guadagnini viola (built in 1740 ) gives extraordinary depth to the music he plays.  The pleasure expressed on Petr Prause’s face as he executes flawless legato or pizzicato passages on his 1795 Gagliano cello is pure joy to hear.

It is more than superb instruments that make for outstanding performances. Of course, fine technique and training are inherent.

Can one discern here a slightly different quality, an essence if you will, of what might be termed an Old World interpretation/presentation that sets such an ensemble as the Talich Quartet on a different, more sonorous audio plane?

The magnetic stillness at the October 16 concert is not oft felt at a performance. The wrapped connection between the performers swept over the stage into the audience.  It was an unusual depth of linking, to both music and how it was being played.

The five opening notes of the first movement to Beethoven’s Quartet in D Major, Opus 18 No. 3 must have influenced Leonard Bernstein’s hauntingly beautiful song “There’s A Place for Us” from his powerful musical, Westside Story. Those same notes appeared and reappeared through the Allegro and celebrated Beethoven’s genius in weaving and then setting forth beyond where he started.  The fourth movement was very fast (Presto in tempo) and gave evidence to the composer’s sense of humor and playfulness.

The second and third musical offerings were both works by Czech composers. Leos Janacek’s Quartet No. 1, known as the Kreutzer Sonata, is based on a novella written by Russian  philosophyer/activist/writer Count Leo Tolstoy. It is a story of passion and pain.

Jacacek’s music sweeps into the heart with beautiful arpeggios and luscious melodies that are eloquent and lyrical. Ranging from enfolding grand, lingering segments to brilliant bursts of  energetic passages, here music speaks volumes of the depths of emotions.

The acclaim of the Talich Quartet’s performances of Czech composers is unquestionable. Choosing to close with Bedrich Smetana’s Quartet No. 1 in E minor (“From My Life”) is a musically descriptive autobiography.

The first movement explores his youthful quest and love of the arts, yet has hints of impending misfortune. Mr Bukac’s viola speaks to the listener through rich melodies and harmonies that were shared with the three other musicians.

The strong nationalism as expressed through the folk music of Czechoslovakia rang out so heartily throughout the polka dance rhythm and melody that dominate the second movement. The deeper tones of the cello are an evocative musical discourse into the world of love and passion.

Watching Petr Prouse’s total immersion into the music and joy of playing his cello only added to the pleasure of the whole visual and auditory experience. Like Beethoven, Smetana lost his hearing later in life.  By the time he was 50 years old, he was totally deaf.

This was a concert that will be heralded as one of the finest heard at Edmond Town Hall.

Once again, NFoM deserves a salute of thanks for bringing the finest of musicians to the community at more than reasonable prices.