Quar-tettes & Quin-tettes, and being a good boy

[Guest]

I was being a good boy yesterday and I went the the old Wigmore 'all to hear and support the Pacifica String quart-ette in their schedule to play all of the Shost-ako-viche string quart-ettes plus the one String Quin-tette - so that's 16 works all-together.

It was pretty damn good, even if not quite the old Borodins of the 1960's. Quite a nice lot too and as I knew someone in common I went back and spoke with 'em. I'm going Thursday night too, and Friday when they do the Quin-tette. The remainder take place next year.

I don't envy the first fiddle as she has to control three blokes, and she is the youngest in the quartet. She admitted it wasn't possible!

Just thought I'd make you all feel guilty.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Not guilty, m'lud, just envious! The Wigmore (so-called because you have toupee for a ticket) is one of my favourite venues; the Shos-ta-k'vitch Quartets are (IMO) that composer's best pieces; and I've never heard the Pacificas "Live" even though their CDs of the Carter Quartets are (at least) as wonderful as the Arditti's. To quote from Life of Brian: "You lucky, lucky ... "!

Best Wishes.

[Ariosto]

Not guilty, m'lud, just envious! The Wigmore (so-called because you have toupee for a ticket) is one of my favourite venues; the Shos-ta-k'vitch Quartets are (IMO) that composer's best pieces; and I've never heard the Pacificas "Live" even though their CDs of the Carter Quartets are (at least) as wonderful as the Arditti's. To quote from Life of Brian: "You lucky, lucky ... "!

Best Wishes.

I think you will find there are plenty of tickets left as it was only about 70% full last night, and I got a ticket for a tenner. There are two more concerts this week, Thursday and Friday.

I'll tell 'em you are all coming ...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A TENNER???? !!!

Well, now you're just showing off!

If ONLY we had a decent Railway service these days!

[Ariosto]

The Pacifica Quartet had wonderful reviews and I think personally that if you want to hear incredible quartet playing in Shostakovich then listen to them.

[Nick Armstrong]

the one String Quin-tette

Umm.... ahem... Piano Quin-tetttttte I think?

I don't listen to many string quart-etttttttes for fun at home, but agree that hearing such pieces live, especially at the Wigmore (I think the marketeers would have us say "at Wigmore Hall" but I prefer the definite article) is marvellous. Being a tall sort of chap, and also not really liking the acoustic further back, I always try and get a seat on the front row - comfort plus the visceral impact of the music. Nothing like it I shall investigate the Pacifica series... Thanks

[amateur51]

Behold the Pacifica Quartet in Shostakovich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xROqSnifa8o

[Ariosto]

Umm.... ahem... Piano Quin-tetttttte I think?

I don't listen to many string quart-etttttttes for fun at home, but agree that hearing such pieces live, especially at the Wigmore (I think the marketeers would have us say "at Wigmore Hall" but I prefer the definite article) is marvellous. Being a tall sort of chap, and also not really liking the acoustic further back, I always try and get a seat on the front row - comfort plus the visceral impact of the music. Nothing like it I shall investigate the Pacifica series... Thanks

Yes, the pianer quintit - actually it was the one thing - well two if you count the encore - the BRAHMS slow movt of the F minor - that was not so good. The joanna player was the problem.

[Flosshilde]

A TENNER???? !!!

Well, now you're just showing off!

If ONLY we had a decent Railway service these days!

A ticket for the rail-way would probably cost ten times the ad-mission to the con-cert.

(why are we writing like a Rupert Bear strip?)

[Flosshilde]

Actually I had the chance to listen to all the quartets over a weekend in Glasgow a year or so ago - for free! (Beats Ariosto's tenner hands down) As I didn't know them I just went to one concert, & wished I'd gone to all of them.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A decent review in today's Times (can't do those link-y things): 4/5 stars. (Because the reviewer doesn't like the Piano Quintet!)