CONCERT NOTES: Leontovych Quartet and Tchekina in Old Alexandria (04/06/03)

CONCERT NOTES: Leontovych Quartet and Tchekina in Old Alexandria

by Larissa Diachok-Wild

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, Va. - It was a distinct musical pleasure to experience the expert musicianship of the prestigious Leontovych String Quartet, together with Tatiana Tchekina at the piano, at the third concert of the Music Series here at the Lyceum. This event, held on March 9, was sponsored by The Washington Group Cultural Fund, under the patronage of the Embassy of Ukraine.

Following a brief word from Ukraine's Ambassador Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, marking the anniversary of the birth of Ukraine's foremost poet Taras Shevchenko, the program opened with a thoughtful and eloquent presentation of Beethoven's String Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 74 ("The Harp"). This work, so-called because of the plucked, rising arpeggios in the opening movement, belongs to Beethoven's Middle Period, a time for him of tremendous creativity.

Op. 74 is a wonderfully varied work, marked by a quiet lyricism and heroism. (It was written in 1809, the year that Napoleon occupied Vienna, where Beethoven was living.) The elegant execution of this piece, under the masterful direction of first violinist Oleh Krysa, displayed virtuostic playing in all four strings. The group was able to move with restraint and grace through many intricate and difficult passages with a collective, intuitive collaboration. To be commended was newcomer, Bulgarian second violinist Jassen Todorov, who integrated well into all the works presented.

Especially moving were the sublime Adagio with its melancholy harmonies, and the stirring Presto, in which talented cellist Vladimir Panteleyev played with passion and precision.

A special treat was Myroslav Skoryk's Partita No. 6 for String Quartet, a piece dedicated to the Leontovych Quartet, which received its premiere in 1996 in the United States. The haunting Prelude, with its mesmerizing opening, exploits the viola's plaintive possibilities, played admirably by Borys Deviatov.

Maestro Skoryk's music held the audience with the characteristic tension he creates between tonality and atonality. Traditional harmonic and rhythmic structures are replaced with tonal clusters and shifting blocks of dissonance, punctuated by intense, erratic pulsations. And yet, evocative sonorities can be heard throughout the Partita, with wistful allusions to Slavic motifs and Ukrainian folk instruments.

The remaining two pieces on the program were intentionally selected by the Leontovych Quartet in honor of the 50th anniversary of the death of Prokofiev, and the 20th anniversary of the death of Alberto Ginastera.

Prokofiev's Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 56, played by Oleh Krysa and Jassen Todorov, was composed in 1932 for the Triton Group in Paris, which promoted new chamber music. This piece consists of four short movements (fast-slow-fast-slow), and is harmonically quite straightforward. Mr. Krysa led a sensitive exchange with Mr. Todorov.

Completing the program was the Quintet for Piano and String Quartet (Op. 29), written in 1962 by the brilliant Argentine composer Ginastera. This passionate work was written in seven movements: four central movements, interspersed with cadenzas for each instrument.

The Quintet employs polytonality and a wide palette of color. Sharp contrasts comprise an essential component of Ginastera's compositional technique. Other elements include sudden accents, syncopation and strong Latin rhythms.

Pianist Tchekina brought great vibrant energy and mastery to the demanding score, as did, indeed, each member of the quartet.

One of Europe's leading string quartets, the Leontovych Quartet has been in existence since its founding in Kyiv in 1971. It has won numerous international prizes, as have each of the players in their own right.

Since taking up residence in the U.S. in l99l, the quartet performs regularly in most major U.S. cities, as well as in Europe. The Quartet also participates yearly at Connecticut's Music Mountain Festival and the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. It has recorded for Melodiya, Musical Heritage Society, Yevshan, Koch International Classics and Greystone Records.

| Home Page |