Proms at Newport: Bloch / Dvořák, vision string quartet / Mahan Mirarab

**bluestateprommer** · 04-08-24, 16:08

Fine, solid first half to this 'Chamber Music Prom', where the vision string quartet plays everything from memory. Perhaps contrary to Verity Sharp, the applause between all the movements of the Dvorak is more likely due to a higher quotient of classical music newbies / relative newbies in the audience. But no matter, if this is indeed new to those folks and the music-making is of high quality, which this is so far. The more 'cross-over' 2nd half awaits....

PS: The second half was basically what I expected, with the vision string quartet going into more Turtle Island String Quartet / Kronos Quartet cross-over mode (though much less pretentiously than the latter can be), along with Mahan Mirarab on guitar. Their musicianship all around is excellent. The music itself is toe-tapping and entertaining, but nothing tremendously memorable on one hearing, which again was what I half-expected. The most touching selection was MM's solo "Anar", in honor of his gf; a bit protracted, but also smart in that it gave more time for vsq to take a break before the final works.

**oddoneout** · 05-08-24, 17:02

From the Guardian

Proms Newport review – fresh, direct accounts of Bloch and Dvořák

https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/05/proms-newport-review-fresh-direct-accounts-of-bloch-and-dvorak

The programmme, which also included Iranian classical and jazz music, was played from memory, bringing a refreshing sense of spontaneity

Proms at Newport: Bloch / Dvořák, vision string quartet / Mahan Mirarab

Proms at Newport: Bloch / Dvořák, vision string quartet / Mahan Mirarab

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