From The Birmingham News

TUSCALOOSA The Shanghai Quartet on Sunday offered a welcome two-hour diversion from events in Iraq and uplifted the soul and provided solace. The program string quartets from three periods of Beethoven's life could not have been better timed. Combining lightness, reverence and seriousness, it was both a catharsis and a humanitarian statement. Formed at the Shanghai Conservatory in 1983, the quartet has amassed a considerable discography and reputation in the West. Its concert, presented by the String Quartet Society of Tuscaloosa in the Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama, showcased the precision and clarity of its technique as well as the organicism of its sound. Following an opening moment of silence for U.S. troops, the foursome eased into the G major quartet, Op. 18, no. 2, lending strength and insight to this Haydnesque work. Its egalaritarian ensemble work, together with fine individual performances, gave this reading to a vivid, sculptural quality. Stormy and energetic, the F minor Quartet, Op. 95, placed the group in a different Beethovenian light. Waves of crescendos and pounding rhythms in the "serioso" movement spotlighted its sheer force, the finale its passion. First violinist Weigang Li's judicious leadership authoritative yet never domineering worked to its best advantage in the Quartet in A minor, Op. 132. The bouncy rhythms and interplay among pairs of instruments made this performance dance. Pushing tempos to their limits in the final allegro resulted in a few unsettling moments, but even those couldn't thwart the exuberance of this ensemble. The Molto Adagio was the concert's most poignant moment. Subtitled the "Song of Thanksgiving," it is a hymn-like prayer that grows to a glorious crescendo only to recede to a whisper. With war raging, the Shanghai's deeply introspective performance soothed the psyche.

Back to Reviews