San Francisco Performances presents a Robert Greenberg lecture: Mozart in Vienna, Season 2: Mozart Transcendent featuring the Alexander String Quartet with Eli Eban and Jodi Levitz
2015-12-12
St. John's Presbyterian Church
2727 College Ave, Berkeley, CA
10:00 AM, Saturday, December 12, 2015

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• Mozart: Viola Quintet in G minor, K. 516
• Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581

[10:01 AM lights down, announcements by Ruth Felt]

1. [10:03 AM] [Lecture by Robert Greenberg]
   [ends 10:33, pause for a bit of tuning]
    
   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): String Quintet No. 4, Viola Quintet in G minor, K. 516, 1787
2. [10:34 AM] Allegro
3. [10:45 AM] Menuetto and Trio. Allegretto
4. [10:51 AM] Adagio ma non troppo
5. [10:59 AM] Adagio — Allegro
   [set ends 11:10 AM]

1. [11:32 AM] [Lecture by Robert Greenberg]
   [ends 12:06 PM, pause for a bit of tuning]
    
   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581, 1789
2. [12:06 PM] Allegro
3. [12:16 PM] Larghetto
4. [12:23 PM] Menuetto
5. [12:20 PM] Allegretto con variazioni
   [set ends 12:40 PM; bows, applause, then off after a minute or so]

Alexander String Quartet

• Zakarias Grafilo: violin;
• Frederick Lifsitz: violin;
• Sandy Wilson: cello;
• Paul Yarbrough: viola.

• Eli Eban: clarinet;
• Jodi Levitz: viola.

• Robert Greenberg: lecturer.

Got up bright and early thanks to the damned rooster alarm, enjoyed a shower while listening to a John Lennon medley on KFOG (commemorating the 35th Anniversary of his passing), then headed downhill to St. John's for this morning's entertainment. Nice not to be rushed!

Arrived early enough to snag a prime parking spot and then enjoy a tumbler of Peets while chit-chatting with the ushers while the musicians took a brief soundcheck. Oddly, Robert Greenberg was not to be seen – must be running late today, as it's 9:57 AM and he's still absent. Could be a problem… But no, 10:00 AM and I can see him getting his wireless mic in place, looks like we're gonna be good to go!

This morning's first lecture focused on the dark and anguished nature of K. 516, aptly drawing comparisons to dramatic opera and several related Mozart works sharing the same G minor key. Perhaps conceding to brevity, Greenberg didn't say a word about the structure of the quintet – how the second viola may have helped embellish the pathos of the piece – makes me think I should go ask him about that oversight. He did take pains to emphasize the final allegro's shift to G major, describing the development as an expression of Mozart's optimistic nature. I would agree that the last bit is quite sunny, but while listening, I somehow missed the transition out of the minor key Adagio. Guess I ought to take another listen when I get the time – my question for the moment being whether it is a sunny surprise, turning a corner and bursting from darkness into light, or rather a more gradual, nuanced transition.

Greenberg's second lecture was also pretty good, offering plenty of historical detail about the clarinet (and Basset horn), and why Mozart chose to spotlight that instrument. Too bad I didn't take time to write any details about this part of the gig while the recollection was fresh – all I can say today is that it was darn good.

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!