Chamber Music Society Kicks Off Summer Evenings Concert Series

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Tuesday, 11 July 2023 13:48

Written by Jack Angstreich

Photo by Cherylynn Tsushima

At the terrific Alice Tully Hall, on the evening of Sunday, July 9th, I had the pleasure to attend the splendid first of four Summer Evenings concerts presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

The program began auspiciously with a sterling account of Luigi Boccherini’s marvelous Quintet in E major, Op. 11, No. 5—a work worthy of Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—featuring violinists Aaron Boyd and Jennifer Frautschi, violist Matthew Lipman, and cellists Nicholas Canellakis and Inbal Segev. The opening movement is unexpectedly somber given its Amoroso marking, although it becomes more animated as it unfolds. The ensuing Allegro con spirito is ebullient with a few solemn inflections and the exceedingly celebrated Minuetto is ineffably charming, while the Rondeau finale is elegant but not lacking emotional intensity.

Boyd, Lipman and Canellakis returned to the stage for an accomplished reading of another extraordinary piece—one characteristic of the early period of the composer—Ludwig van Beethoven’s Trio in D major, Op. 9., No. 2. The initial Allegretto is passionate while the following Andante quasi allegretto is even more serious and the succeeding Menuetto is unsurprisingly lighter in tone. The closing Rondo is ultimately and triumphantly exultant.

The event concluded admirably with a committed performance of Alexander Glazunov’s striking Quintet in A major, Op. 39, the efflorescent Romanticism of which is subtly presaged in the Beethoven. The Allegro is lush in texture and theespritof the Scherzo is delightful, although it has a sober middle section; it precedes the more turbulent and inward Andante sostenuto. The Allegro moderato finale is inventive and melodious.

I look forward to the remainder of the series.

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