Reviews

Antares Ensemble

THE NEWTOWN BEE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2004

In the constellation Scorpius, the brightest star, which is also classified as a Red Supergiant, is named Antares. This is an appropriately chosen name for the musical quartet that performed on October 3 at Edmond Town Hall, officially opening the 2004-05 season of concerts sponsored by Newtown Friends of Music.

Formed eight years ago, the acclaim and recognition of Antares is evidenced by an ever-growing number of accolades. This year Antares received its second ASCAP/CMA Award for Adventurous Programming. Additional kudos include top prizes in national chamber music competitions.

The music these talented musicians play ranges from 18th Century to contemporary composers. In fact, Antares has committed to include at least one contemporary work in every concert they perform. An inherent part of their musical mission is to broaden and educate the public taste.

They clearly technically excel with both familiar as well as cutting-edge music. Antares' energy and enthusiasm mesmerizes even the youngest of audiences.

Two of the three works heard at Sunday's concert were written by Frnech composers. They were quite modern and displayed the many different (read: non-conventional) sounds an instrument can be made to produce.

Written in 1995 by Nicholas Bacri, Im Volkston, Divertimento No.2, Op.43 has seven movements. Beginning with a lively and playful first movement entitled "Danse: Presto ruvido," Bacri's music challenges technical skill and the imagination. Some portions of the movement grate on the ear. Fifths, sevenths and other provocative intervals that are often part of contemporary music do abound in this work, yet its range of rhythmic diversity is fascinating to experience.

The second half of the program was given over to a powerful and rather lengthy composition, Quartet for the End of Time, by French composer Olivier Messiaen.

It was written in the most difficult of circumstances: in a concentration camp in World War II. The pen and paper on which he wrote it were smuggled in, and it was first performed in the freezing cold of winter to an audience of over 5,000 starving inmates.

The four instruments Messiaen composed for were what was at hand at the prison. This alone speaks volumes of the spirit of man rising above the most devastating situations.

Quartet for the End of Time is almost an hour in length and focuses on emotional and passionate expression. It embodies the contrasts of life in musical imagery and offers the listener frenetic and tortuous sound and melodic episodes of great beauty. A man, who encompassed life at its depth and its pinnacles, Olivier Messiaen's music also ranged from religious mysticism to bird song motives and electronic to traditional instrumentation.

Between the two French composers, Antares performed Beethoven's Trio in B-flat for clarinet, piano and cello, Opus 11. Beautiful to listen to, and performed with great skill and understanding, this three-movement Trio was uplifting. The second movement, Adagio (play slowly), was almost a love song of longing and melodic rapture.
The four very fine musicians who comprise Antares - cellist Rebecca Patterson, clarinetist Garrick Zoeter, pianist Eric Huebner and violinist Vesselin Gellev - are also committed to educating young people as well as performing. In addition to their current situation as Artists-in-Residence at both Columbia and Weslyan Universities, Antares also spent the day after the concert in Newtown Middle School to work with students. This is an integral part of the outreach program created and sponsored by the Newtown Friends of Music.

To quote the stance of this vital organization: "We are committed to helping awaken our young people's passion for great music." Certainly, for those attending Sunday's concert, both mind and imagination were strongly stimulated.