SFJAZZ presents the Bartók Cycle featuring Calder Quartet
2014-11-11
Miner Auditorium
SFJAZZ Center, 205 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
7:30 PM, Tuesday, November 11, 2014
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[7:32 PM lights down, announcements by Rebeca Mauleón]
Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 5, Sz.102, BB 110 (1934)
Péter Eötvös: Korrespondenz (scenes for string quartet) (1992)
Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 6, Sz.114, BB 119 (1939)
[8:49 PM lights down, announcements from Andrew Bulbrook]
First set tonight was quite good. The boys were obviously well-prepared, and I appreciated that Andrew Bulbrook took time to discuss each of the works with us – quite helpful in the absence of any official program notes! On the other hand, while Bullbrook's exegesis of the back story to Korrespondenz is interesting, I had a hard time determining how that translated to the work I heard, except at the most superficial level: assigning the viola part to W.A. Mozart and the cello to papa Leopold. Maybe I need to listen to a recording while reading additional critical analysis on the piece? Seems like extra work, without a lot of payoff in terms of potential enjoyment to be gained by that effort!
As noted first, the Bartók works were sublime. I thought the group did an excellent job of capturing the pathos encapsulated by the 6th, particularly with the semi-farcical march and then more so with the grieving final movement. I'll be interested in finding out whether Randall invites them back for another visit next season – depending on the program and my schedule, I could find myself back in row F once more!
Program Notes from a performance of Korrespondenz by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2014 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2014 event list! ☸ On to the next event!