Promising clarinet quartet
On November 24, I attended a lunchtime concert at the Manoel Theatre's Foyer, in Valletta. The artists in concert were the Denner Clarinet Quartet, who played to a full capacity audience. This quartet surely knows what an audience wants as the...
On November 24, I attended a lunchtime concert at the Manoel Theatre's Foyer, in Valletta. The artists in concert were the Denner Clarinet Quartet, who played to a full capacity audience. This quartet surely knows what an audience wants as the programme chosen was enthusiastically received by all present.
The first piece in the programme was Early Hungarian Dances by Farkas and this showed the versatility of the quartet from the beginning. The blending and balance was good and the Eb clarinet stood out in all the movements, although it took the players some time to warm up. But from the second piece onwards it was all fire.
Leader Lino Pirotta changed to his Bb clarinet and one could hear that he is more comfortable with this instrument in his hands. I have never heard Grundman's Caprice before and it was a pleasure to listen to this good work although a bit too short to my liking.
A Tango rhythm from the Bass clarinet introduced us to It Takes Four To Tango, a change in style which showed the versatility of this quartet. Misty by Garner was by far the most well-known piece as it has a very popular tune. The solo by the first clarinet was mesmerising and captured the audience's sentimental feelings. The tone in this solo was really mellow and the glissandi played wisely and effortlessly.
Holloway's The Art Of The Clarinet followed and here you could see the grinning faces of the English audience to this cheeky composition. Colonel's Bogey theme introduced us to a beautiful serenade and an effective Tango, with a grand Finale movement which brought this piece to a fiery ending from all the clarinets.
The last number on the programme was Monti's Czardas. This virtuoso piece started on a beautifully interpreted introduction from the Bass clarinet (Christopher Camilleri). In the allegro that followed the clarinets all took turns to show off their virtuosity. Lino Pirotta, Stephen Dimech and William Debattista were all outstanding in this grand showpiece.
Keep it up, as concertgoers appreciate and look forward to this type of chamber concerts.
It was a pity though; we did not get an encore (maybe because of restricted time) after the audience gave this promising quartet a standing ovation.