String Quartet Plus One

A string quartet on its own can sound like a whole orchestra, or like four individuals humming as softly as they can. Giacomo Puccini highlights the string quartet’s strengths in his Scherzo for String Quartet featuring moments of melodic invention, the sparkle of string technique, and the richness of harmonies for these four voices. However, add a contrasting instrument to a string quartet and a wonderful chamber music partnership is born. In Anton Reicha’s Clarinet Quintet, sometimes the quartet is like one instrument — a piano accompanying a singer while the clarinetist diva soars above, while at other moments, each instrument interacts as an individual playing against each other with endless variety and fun. The final work on the program is based on a film score by Zhao Jiping arranged by his son, Zhao Lin and features a string quartet alongside the pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument, which is plucked and sounds somewhat like a lute.