Hello everyone!
Tokyo String Quartet is "regarded as one of the supreme chamber ensembles of the world",
it also has to be one of the oldest string quartets,
(they've been together for 43 years!)
and we got to see them perform last night at Rice!
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| At Stude Hall at Shepherd School of Music. |
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| Becca, Christiano, and I obviously uber excited for this performance! |
It was an extra special night because after 43 years of being together,
this will be their last season as a quartet, and our last chance to hear them live in Houston.
I think it was a very bitter-sweet night for many people there,
as Tokyo String Quartet has played a major part in the development of Houston's arts scene
for a very long time.
There they are!!! Finally! =D
Their program consisted of
Haydn String Quartet in G minor, Op. 74, No. 3,
Bartok String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114
and
Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2.
A fitting program for their farewell concert, really.
None of these quartets are very chipper,
though the Haydn had its humorous moments,
and even the Bartok had its twisted and dark humorous moments...
But wow.. that Bartok String Quartet.
It was my first time hearing it, and man...
just thinking back to that piece weighs down my heart.
The word 'mesto' which means sad, gloomy, dejected, and mournful
is used to describe each movement.
The first 3 movements have other adjectives following the word 'mesto',
but the last movement is just 'mesto'.
'Mesto'
that truly was the last movement.
After the performance of this quartet, I remember Christiano and I looking at each other and saying,
"wow..."
"I'm really depressed now..."
As they were about to start the 3rd and last piece on the program,
a spokesperson for the Mayor of Houston came out onto the stage,
and read Mayor's proclamation designating September 20th, 2012 as
the Tokyo String Quartet Day!
Folks, if you live in Houston, Tokyo String Quartet Day exists in your calendar!
Mark it, it's September 20th. =)
What a wonderful way to mark the special relationship between the quartet and their friends in Houston!
It was definitely a heart-warming moment for everyone.
After the concert, of course there was a huge reception,
and the members of the quartet positioned themselves at a desk for probably almost an hour for visitations and autograph-ing.
I'm not usually the one to get autographs, mostly because I lose them promptly thereafter,
but seeing as this was the very last chance to get their signatures all together,
Christiano and I braved the looong lines and got to meet them.
and here they are!
All of them as a quartet, for the last time in Houston...
Such wonderful people and musicians! =)
If you have a chance to see them live for the last time, I would highly encourage you to do so!
They are really wonderful, and well, you won't ever get the chance again!
Thanks for reading!
--Janny
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