ASQ PRESS REVIEWS

By Larry Lapidus, for the "Spokesman-Review"
Wed Feb 16, 2022, Spokane, WA

In reviewing a musical performance, the standard of virtuosity is complex since it describes a spectrum between two polar opposites: on the one hand, the ability of the artist to impress the audience with his or her gifts and abilities, and on the other hand, the ability of the artist to disappear from the consciousness of the audience, leaving them with the impression that they are communing with the music itself, or, more mysterious still, with the mind of the composer.

The Arianna String Quartet exemplified the latter in its virtuosity. So complete was their technical command of their instruments, mastery of the scores and absolute unity of interpretive purpose that it was though the music was being conveyed unmediated and no other tempos, dynamics or instrumental balances could express the intentions of the composer as perfectly.

Among the trove of delights in the two concerts, two demand special notice. Before hearing his String Trio on Saturday, the name of its composer, Gideon Klein, was unknown to most of the audience. Hearing this tautly constructed, acerbic but compelling piece of music no doubt will move many to learn more about his tragic life and to explore the substantial body of work he was able to produce before his death at Auschwitz.

It was not surprising that the Schubert C major String Quintet was the musical culmination of the weekend, as it occupies hotly contested real estate at the pinnacle of western music. All the qualities that rank Schubert among the greatest composers – his breathtaking lyricism, harmonic and structural audacity and unequalled insight into the tragic nature of the human condition – are epitomized in this Quintet.

Still displaying the same capacity for energy and precision with which they began the weekend, the Arianna Quartet was joined by Bailey, who as always subordinated his great gifts to the common goal of exploring the treasure left by Schubert. Suffice it to say that Bailey and his colleagues left the stage satisfied that their efforts had proved deserving of the trust that Schubert, and the audience, had placed in them.

“Quartet playing doesn’t get much better than this” - Chicago Tribune

“The Arianna Quartet makes music with the tonal warmth, fastidious balance and heightened communication skills of groups many years its senior. In Schubert’s Quartettsatz, and especially a shimmering and stylish reading of the Ravel Quartet, the silken refinement of the playing was achieved with no loss of expressive vitality or spontaneity. Quartet playing doesn’t get much better than this.”

“Arianna String Quartet offers great music-making”--St. Louis Post Dispatch

“The members of the Arianna Quartet combine outstanding musicianship, technical mastery of their instruments, energy and focus that add up to great music-making. The inner voices are never covered; all the parts are brought out, and the emotional side is carefully balanced with the thoughtful. In Dvorak´s Op.51 quartet, the quartet showed lyricism, balance and that thoughtful phrase-making ability”

“Quartet´s playing both flawless and warm” - The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, OH

“The Arianna Quartet issued a thoughtful, expressive and technically flawless performance, and it sounded beautiful.”

“Arianna String Quartet never less than elegant” - The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV

”The Arianna Quartet made a strong argument for Bartok´s Fourth String Quartet in its performance for the Charleston Chamber Music Society. It didn´t dwell on the dissonant harmonies or angular rhythms that many ensembles exploit to bring energy to one of the great works of the repertoire. Rough edges were ground down, and tones were drenched in diaphanous color.”

“Pure and Brilliant” - Ongaku no Tomo, Tokyo Japan

“I was happy to see that this group concentrates their energy on contemplation of the pieces and clear expression of the musical structures, rather than merely showing off their technique. In the Mozart, their capacity of keeping the phrases pure and innocent was impressive, and the ringing, clear and energetic staccato was something I had not heard in a long time. The Beethoven Op.95 and Bartok No.6 are pieces that can sound extremely complex and confusing. However, the Arianna Quartet´s careful control of volume and harmony of each phrase and the mosaic-like organization resulted in an expression of the pure and brilliant structure of these works. This way of always naturally expressing the works may seem unoriginal, but it requires the highest technique. I deeply respect each member of the group for taking on the challenge of this task.”

“Arianna Quartet presents another fine program” - St. Louis Post Dispatch

The Mozart set the tone for the performance and was delivered with the group´s accustomed precision, elegance and nearly telepathic rapport. The players delivered an electric performance that made this a genuine tour de force.”

“Arianna String Quartet shows its excellence” - St. Louis Post Dispatch

Leading off the evening was a crystalline, yet warm rendition of Haydn´s Quartet in E-flat Major, Op.64, No.6. The emotional high point of the evening was the relatively unfamiliar Quartet No.3, Op.94 by Benjamin Britten. At the hands of the Arianna, this haunting selection packed tremendous emotional punch, especially in the somber tolling of the final movement. The program was rounded out with a fine performance of Ravel´s Quartet in F Major.”

“Mixture of exultation and melancholy was perfectly balanced” - Chicago Sun Times

“Two members of the distinguished Vermeer Quartet joined the players of the Arianna String Quartet for a lustrous reading of Brahms´ G Major String Sextet. Led by the Arianna´s sweetly sumptuous first violin, the Brahms Sextet had a quietly rhapsodic drive. Its mixture of exultation and melancholy was perfectly balanced; shifts in mood, especially in the scherzo and trio, were always convincing.”

“Tonally alluring and intellectually challenging.” - The Ann Arbor Observer, Ann Arbor, MI

“The Arianna Quartet´s performance of Janacek´s “Kreutzer Sonata” Quartet was beautiful, simply beautiful. The opening gesture of Beethoven´s Op.18, No.3 quartet was gorgeous, and the whole of Britten´s last quartet was cogently argued. Clearly, the Arianna Quartet is tonally alluring and intellectually challenging.”

“Quartet’s technical virtuosity impressive” - Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey

“It didn’t take long before one heard the reason behind the impressive success of the Arianna String Quartet. These musicians displayed the smooth blending of sound that many quartets spend decades trying to achieve. In the Mendelssohn Op.12, the group flew through the “rapids” in perfect symmetry and clean phrasing, an impressive technical feat. The Stravinsky was filled with its pungent dissonance yet so cleanly played one could enjoy its satire and rhythmic accents. “La Oracion del torero” by Turina and the gentle Elegy by Puccini were both filled with slow passages played with loving care.”

“Arianna String Quartet is delightful” -