Nokuthula Ngwenyama
Once again
the good folks at People’s Symphony
Concerts (PSC) amaze and astound us with musicians both old and new to the
program. Last Saturday, perennial PSC
favorites the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson
Trio returned for a concert of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Dvorak, amply
assisted by a stunning Nokuthula
Ngwenyama on the viola. The result
was magical.
The
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio debuted at the White House nearly 35 years ago, and they continue to bring
technical mastery, expressive depth, and magnetism to the concert stage. Their
30th Anniversary was celebrated at Carnegie Hall, where Richard
Danielpour devoted a piano quartet in honor of the anniversary – the piece
has since become a part of their extensive repertoire. The Trio is one of today’s
most beloved ensembles and these three artists share their passion for music
with audiences worldwide.
The Trio – Joseph Kalichstein, piano, Jaime Laredo, violin, Sharon Robinson, cello -- has traveled
the globe, including japan, New Zealand and Australia, Amsterdam, Barcelona,
Brussels, Copenhagen, Lisbon and Paris, as well as Helsinki, South Bank and
Tivoli. Their most recent CD is of
Schubert Piano Trios, released on the Bridge label.
Nokuthula
Ngwenyama came to international attention when she won the Primrose
International Viola Competition and the Young
Concert Artists International Auditions at age 17. In 1998, she received the prestigious Avery
Fisher Career Grant. She has performed
throughout the US and across four continents – and she has recently been featured
as a Face to Watch by the Los Angeles Times.
With a
wealth of talent such as this, it is no surprise that last Saturday’s concert
was one to remember. The concert opened
with Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11
(1798) by Ludwig Van Beethoven
(1770-1827). This piece was interesting,
and the playing worthy, but it is not Beethoven at his best. The adagio
is not perfectly conceived, to my ear, and the Tema con variazioni: Pria ch’ io l ‘impegno not wholly satisfying.
The Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66 (1845), by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), on the other hand, is more
coherently conceived. Mendelssohn is not
in the same league of genius as Beethoven, and though less ambitious he was
more consistent. Op. 66 is wonderfully
melodic and the third movement, the Scherzo, Molto allegro quasi presto, is delivered
with great gusto. The Trio did a
wonderful job of bringing it to life.
However,
the undisputed highlight of the concert was the Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 87 (1889) by Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904). We here at The Jade Sphinx had never heard this piece before, and it was as if
a thunderclap erupted in the house. This
is a remarkable piece – melodic and dramatic, with a clear musical line and
distinct tone and point of view. Ms.
Ngwenyama joined the trio for this piece, and her bowing was clear and strong,
tightly controlled and passionately delivered.
One could almost hear the entire ensemble beating to one heart, and the
flourish with which they finished brought applause long, loud and lusty. It was one of those electric moments that PSC
can deliver with such astounding regularity.