News
Email
Print
Artistic Gems: Chamber music shines at gallery
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: August 22, 2008
Updated: 08/22/2008 03:10 am
A program called "Sparkling French" got the second week of the Carolina Summer Music Festival under way. But the music -- all of it by French composers -- wasn't the only thing that was sparkling last night.
That's because the concert was in the Jon Kuhn Gallery on Liberty Street. The audience was treated not only to first-rate chamber music but also to Kuhn's many glass pieces, some of which emitted sparks of bright colors as they spun around on vertical platforms. In addition, the musicians performed in front of images of the Kuhn-Bosen-dorfer piano inlaid with pieces of Kuhn's glass.
The gallery's pleasing, not-too-bright acoustics favored the performers. These, along with mezzo-soprano Mary Siebert, included flutist Elizabeth Ransom, cellist Grace Lin Anderson, pianist Inara Zandmane, violinist Jacqui Carrasco and violist Diane Phoenix-Neal.
In Faure's C-Minor Quartet, a sprawling and hefty creation of always-attractive writing, there were many stars. One of my favorites was Zandmane, a Latvian-born staff accompanist at UNC Greensboro. Her playing had plenty of drive and passion when it had to. But it also benefited from a lovely, feathery touch, manifested in runs executed with enviable ease.
Anderson, Carrasco and Phoenix-Neal seemed engrossed in a highly expressive exchange of ideas. And I so admired the depth and feeling of their musicianship.
"Sparkling French" underscored the prominent place that singers are enjoying in the festival: Siebert teamed up with Ransom, Anderson and Zandmane in Ravel's Chansons madecasses.
Nothing in Chansons is instantly accessible. But Siebert drew on all her musical and dramatic powers to bring the songs to life, particularly in the second movement, which begins explosively and seems to say, "Don't mess with me." The musicians -- Ransom, Anderson and Zandmane -- complemented her efforts nicely.
Philippe Gaubert's highly impressionistic Trois Aquarelles benefited from a clear and lively account of its three players -- Ransom, Anderson and Zandmane. A trio of flute, cello and piano made for a felicitous combination of diverse sounds.
■ The Carolina Summer Music Festival will run through Aug. 31. See <span>www.carolinasummermusicfestival.org or call 336-682-8524.
■ Ken Keuffel can be reached at 727-7337 or at kkeuffel@wsjournal.com.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
See community events or add your own! Click here!
Advertisement
