By Benedicte Dansie
String Quartet Heaven: Haydn & Schubert, presented by Westminster College at Vieve Gore Concert Hall in Salt Lake City, was a stunning way to begin my school-work-busy week. Under the venue’s bright lights, the quartet’s instruments gleamed as the musicians took their seats on stage. From the get-go, the music was lively, articulate, and highly enjoyable.
Lun Jiang (Violin), Evgenia Zharzhavskaya (Violin), Whittney Thomas (Viola), and Pegsoon Whang (Cello) were wonderfully attuned to each other. They moved as one throughout their series of technically challenging and rigorous pieces. No one player overshadowed the others and they worked as a finely-tuned unit, perfectly in sync with each other. While beautifully playing the difficult pieces, the quartet members also seemed to truly enjoy themselves. They were all smiling throughout the concert and clearly loved playing together.
The first piece the quartet played was String Quartet Noo. 62 in C Major by Joseph Haydn, which is often called “Emperor”. The piece is characterized by four very distinct movements. The quartet played with expression and dynamics as they flowed seamlessly from movement to movement. The Poco adagio; cantabile featured a stunning violin duet where the balance between the juxtaposed parts was absolutely beautiful. Jiang and Zharzhavskaya made their instruments sing as they swept back and forth between a rapid staccato rhythm and the sweeter, more lyrical melody. During the Finale. Presto, each musician took their turn carrying a rapid set of rushing and difficult phrases.
Following a brief pause, the quartet continued with Giacomo Puccini’s “Cristantemi” (“Chrysanthemum”).This was a testament to growth and natural beauty. Starting with haunting and lyrical opening strains, it slowly grew into a light and soulful piece. To finish the piece off, the quartet played an exquisite set of synchronized notes. Though this piece was the shortest, the lovely sound and quality of it made it an audience favorite.
To close the concert, the quartet played String Quartet No. 14 in d minor, D. 810 or “Death and the Maiden” by Franz Schubert. Like the “Emperor” Quartet, this piece is defined by four unique movements. The Allegrowas instantly attention-grabbing before settling into a smoother serious of quick phrases. There were lots of growing crescendos, followed by quick decrescendos that kept the audience riveted. Even though the piece was obviously challenging, the musicians played it with ease. The movements continued to sweep through the music hall, alternating between the slow, lush melodies of the Andante con motoand the sharp, brisk sounds of the Scherzo: Allegro Molto. The piece finished with a sweeping set of insanely fast rhythms and notes. These often required quick, intricate fingering that the quartet was perfectly in sync for.
Overall, the performance was quite dazzling. Although a smaller setting could have made for a more intimate concert, the quartet was able to fill the large space and make it come alive with their masterful playing. The piece selection for the evening was absolutely charming and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. I would highly recommend attending the similar events Westminster offers in the future.
Westminster College Presents String Quartet Heaven: Haydn & Schubert Vieve Gore Concert Hall, 1840 1300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
February 25, 2019 7:30 PM
Tickets: $12/Free for Westminster students, staff, and faculty
Contact: 801-484-7651
String Quartet Heaven: Haydn & Schubert Facebook Event
Westminster Performing Arts Facebook Page
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