by Melanie Wong
If you were one of the 25 people in the basement of the DiMenna Center
last Friday, you were among the lucky few who witnessed a truly remarkable
performance by preeminent French clarinet quartet Quatuor Vendôme. Formed in
2002, QV’s members—Alexandre Chabod, Julien Chabod, Nicolas Baldeyrou, and
Franck Amet—also hold full-time positions in some of France’s top orchestras and conservatories.
In addition to being exceptional clarinetists, the four are also
gifted arrangers, orchestrating many of their pieces themselves. As far as clarinet
quartets go, QV is unparalleled in all aspects of their artistry: their sound is
consistently homogenous, their technique is exceptionally virtuosic, and their
intonation is inhumanly close to perfect.
Opening the program, QV energetically bounced through a Baroque-style quartet
by Jean-Phillipe Rameau before moving on to an opera fantasy based on themes
from Rossini’s Barber of Seville. Equally at home as soloists and accompanists,
the quartet rotated parts throughout the evening, giving each player a chance
to shine. Technically speaking, they hopped around the instrument with great
facility, and with the utmost sensitivity, QV seamlessly faded in and out of
each other’s sounds.
Mid-program, four New York City-based clarinetists—Jon Manasse, Pascual
Martinez Forteza, Liam Burke, and David Gould—joined QV for three octets by
Astor Piazzolla. As an eight-some, the group produced a hearty sound that
remained just as unified. Jazzy, sexy, and distinctly Latin, the players ripped
through the glissandi-filled solos with flair; the octets proving to be a
blast for both the players and audience alike.
Back to the original roster of four, QV presented an original piece
composed for the group, Prelude et Funk by Guillaume Connesson. A slow and
pensive opening quickly turned fast and aggressive— an insane technical
fury that remained impressively cohesive throughout.
QV ended the program with Lakmé's infamous Flower Duet and Gershwin’s "Oh,
Lady Be Good!” Both sweet and lighthearted pieces, QV left the all-too-tiny
audience eager for more.
This event was
sponsored by Buffet-Crampon and Vandoren.