Concert Review—

A Standing Ovation Concludes Concert And Season

By June April

The sounds of silence can speak loudly of many sentiments. At the final concert of the Newtown Friends of Music on April 29 the stillness was palatable, for it reflected the intensity and emotional involvement of the audience with the four outstanding musicians on the stage.

The Alexander String Quartet performed an all-Beethoven program last Sunday afternoon, and before an audience ranging in age from middle school students to senior citizens, rapt attention was generated throughout the auditorium of Newtown’s Edmond Town Hall for the entire concert.

Founded in 1981 by the quartet’s cellist, Sandy Wilson, and the violist Paul Yarbrough, the group welcomed violinists Frederick Lifsitz and Ge-Fang Yang 14 and 9 years ago, respectively.

A decade ago the Alexander Quartet moved to the West Coast; the group is now the ensemble-in-residence at San Francisco State University.  They were the first American quartet to win the prestigious London International String Quartet Competition.

Following the April 29 performance, Mr Yang admitted that the all-Beethoven program was a response to the idea that there are many different levels through which one can connect with Beethoven’s music. “Sometimes the melody is transparent, such as with String Quartet No. 1 in F, Opus 18 [the opening piece of the concert],” noted the violinist.

The genius of Beethoven was clearly evident in String Quartet in F minor, No. 11, Opus 95. Creating new directions in tone and composition, Beethoven once wrote that this work was not intended for the ears of the public, but rather for those few who had the expertise to comprehend what he was seeking to explore.

The last work in the concert was String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Opus 132. The quartet’s performance of the third movement in particular almost approximated a spiritual level and felt close to a religious experience in the beauty of the blended tones.

   The nuances of their musicianship and interpretation of Beethoven’s quartets brought a deserved standing ovation at the close of the concert.