San Francisco Performances presents
Pacifica Quartet
with Marc-André Hamelin
2013-11-11
Miner Auditorium
SFJAZZ Center, 205 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
7:30 PM, Monday, November 11, 2013

[7:31 PM lights down]

Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (1906-1975): String Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor, Op.108 (1960)

1. [7:32 PM] Allegretto
2. [7:36 PM] Lento
3. [7:41 PM] Allegro - Allegretto - [Adagio] (performed without a break between movements)
   [work ends 7:44 PM]

[pause to add piano; move towards center; 7:48 PM out]

Leo Ornstein (1893-2002): Piano Quintet, Op.92, SO 610 (1927)

1. [7:49 PM] Allegro barbaro
2. [8:03 PM] Andante lamentoso
3. [8:13 PM] Allegro agitato
   [work ends 8:27 PM]

[8:46 PM lights down]

Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904): Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op.81, B.155 (1887)

1. [8:47 PM] Allegro ma non tanto
2. [8:57 PM] Dumka: Andante con moto
3. [9:11 PM] Scherzo-Furiant: Molto vivace
4. [9:16 PM] Allegro
   [show ends 9:23 PM]

the Pacifica Quartet

• Sibbi Bernhardsson: violin;
• Simin Ganatra: violin;
• Masumi Per Rostad: viola;
• Brandon Vamos: cello.

• Marc-André Hamelin: piano.

My first remark for tonight is that I found it quite rewarding to sit in the terrace above and behind the stage despite the limited sightlines. Without leaning forward in my seat, about all I could see was the heads of the quartet. Pushing my head out over the railing while leaning forward from my seat, I was rewarded with a view of the pianist's back and right hand. Had the page turner been absent, I probably could have seen the pianist's left hand too, but that would have required remaining in a somewhat precarious position, cantilevered out over the drink rail. While this arrangement was not entirely satisfactory, it was what I had selected, trading sightlines for proximity and a steeply discounted tariff. Happily, we were able to center ourselves a bit after the first piece, as the center terrace was unoccupied except for our group and a couple other folks.

And the music? Divine! The Pacifica Quartet certainly demonstrated an uncanny ability to meld arms and minds together in creating a unified performing organism. Simply put, they had IT!

Stephen Smoliar posted a promo article and a positive review at the Examiner website.

Back to the calendar!