RIANNA SEELIG
Staff Writer
The Shanghai Quartet is one of the world’s foremost chamber ensembles. The performers include Weigang Li (violin), Yi-Wen Jiang (violin), Honggang Li (viola) and Nicholas Tzavaras (cello). The four main performers were accompanied by Fredonia professor Sean Duggan, a pianist and monk of St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, Louisiana.
The quartet is famous for its passionate musicality, disciplined technique and astounding ability to blend the sounds of Western and Eastern music. Commonly performed genres include traditional Chinese folk music, milestone pieces of Western music and various contemporary pieces.
At the Saturday night show, three numbers were performed. First, “String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80” by Felix Mendelssohn, containing four movements: Allegro vivace assai, Allegro assai, Adagio, and Finale: Allegro molto. The first number varied between chaotic and heavy musicality to softer and lighter sounds. The completion of the number was welcomed with thunderous applause.
Second was a performance including selections from “ChinaSong,” an arrangement by Jiang combining traditional and popular folk songs. The piece included three movements: Yao Dance, Shepherd’s Song and Harvest Celebration. This piece, a crowd favorite, was an attempt to give traditional Chinese music more of a “Western feel” to make it more accessible and enjoyable for Westerners. The piece was followed by a standing ovation and a brief intermission.
Lastly, after a brief intermission, the Quartet concluded with “Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81” by Antonín Dvorák. The piece included four movements: Allegro, ma non tanto, Dumka: Andante con moto, Scherzo (Furiant): molto vivace, and Finale: Allegro.
The final number introduced a piano accompaniment to the performance. Sounds shifted from light to jovial and jaunty at the conclusion; the speed of the piano was astounding. The piece concluded and a loud, “oh, wow!” echoed throughout Rosch Recital Hall before another standing ovation began.
The crowd could not get enough of The Shanghai Quartet, and after roaring applause the performers sat for an encore number. The pianist announced the number would be a piece by Bach, and the audience emitted countless gasps. The number was brief and was, once again, welcomed with thunderous applause.