On Saturday night at Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, members of Salastina performed a chamber music masterpiece: the Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 by Johannes Brahms.
Resident Host Brian Lauritzen introduced the program by describing the journey that the Piano Quintet took from a string quintet to a two-piano sonata and finally to the piano quintet we know today. Brahms was always sensitive to feedback from those he admired. In the case of the quintet, both the violinist Joseph Joachim and the pianist and wife of Robert Schumann, Clara, suggested that the two earlier versions should be redone for different instrument arrangements. It’s a good thing he listened to them or we wouldn’t have the masterpiece we have today. In the end, Brahms was very selective in what he finally thought was good enough for public consumption and, as it turns out, for posterity. So it was with the piano quintet. During Lauritzen’s remarks, the musicians played a small segment of each movement to prepare the audience for what they would soon hear.
Brahms’ quintet is a perfect vehicle for musical expression. It is rich with melodies and rhythms and big dynamic variations and allows the musicians to really let loose. The turbulent nature of the quintet is now legendary, so much so that it was once featured in a television commercial where, at the end of the third movement, the piano crumbled to pieces.
On Saturday night, the Salastina musicians — Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White on violin, Meredith Crawford on viola, Yoshika Masuda on cello and HyeJin Kim on piano — gave the audience an inspired and passionate performance. The tension at the conclusion of each movement was so palpable that one expected the audience to applaud, but they held their collective breath and refrained. One could see on the musicians’ faces and by their movements that they were committed to the music and moved by it. That translated to the audience and pulled them into the music even more. The musicians massaged the dynamics so perfectly that each instrument could be heard when it was time to stand out. And their timing was impeccable.
At the conclusion, the musicians had had a physical and emotional workout, and their efforts were rewarded with cheering and a standing ovation.
I have to say something about Barrett Hall. The small intimate space and acoustics were a perfect fit for this performance, allowing the audience to feel more at one with the musicians and the music. And the tiered seating meant that no audience member’s view was obstructed.
Bravo to Salastina for a memorable performance of Brahms’ masterpiece!
—Henry Schlinger, Culture Spot LA
For information about upcoming concerts, visit https://www.salastina.org.
Photo courtesy of Salastina