CUARTETO CASALS DISPLAYS ITS MANY TALENTS IN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF SALT LAKE CITY, Cuarteto Casals, Libby Gardner Concert Hall, March 2

Cuarteto Casals (Photo Credit: Felix Broede)

Formed nearly 20 years ago, the Cuarteto Casals has the distinction of being the first Spanish string quartet to win international recognition. And rightfully so. They are an exceptional group that plays with remarkable musicality and technical assuredness and — perhaps their greatest asset — with uncanny interpretative skills that give them a standard of excellence other quartets can look up to.

The foursome (violinists Vera Martinez and Abel Tomàs, who alternate first chair duties; violist Jonathan Brown; and cellist Arnau Tomàs) stopped in Salt Lake City Monday evening where they played an ambitious program of Mozart, Shostakovich and Brahms.

The ensemble opened the concert with an effusive reading of Mozart’s Quartet in G major, K. 387. They went for a romantic approach rather than a more classically structured interpretation with cleanly defined lines and phrasings. This approach was best suited for the Andante, however, where their style of playing underscored the warmth and expressiveness of the music.

They paired the Mozart with Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 2 in A major, a work of many contrasts. With its folk like themes, bold harmonic palette and dark emotions, it’s perfectly suited for the Cuarteto Casals. And in fact this was the highpoint of the concert. They gave a fabulously imaginative reading that captured the full spectrum of feelings embodied in the work. Their playing was at times dramatic and bold, and at times gorgeously expressive. They brought out the essence of a work that is perhaps one of the composer’s best quartets. It’s not an easy piece to listen to, but the players’ wonderfully full bodied and vibrant performance captivated the audience. Particularly stunning was Martinez’s eloquent playing in the Adagio. She brought depth and feeling to her playing that made the plaintive tone of the music stand out.

After intermission, the four dove into Brahms’ Quartet in C minor, op. 51, no. 1. Their account was filled with romantic sensibilities that emphasized the passionate nature of the music. It was a vibrant reading that was exuberant in its expressiveness and sensitive to the subtleties of the score.

This entry was posted in Concert Reviews by Edward Reichel. Bookmark the permalink.

About Edward Reichel

Edward Reichel, author, writer and composer, has been covering the classical music scene in Utah since 1997. For many years he served as the primary music critic for the Deseret News. He has also written for a number of publications, including Chamber Music Magazine, OPERA Magazine, 15 Bytes, Park City Magazine and Salt Lake Magazine. He holds a Ph.D. in composition from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He can be reached at ed.reichel@gmail.com. Reichel Recommends is also on Twitter @ReichelArts.

Leave a Reply