By Eileen Wingard
Unlike most string quartet chamber music concerts, which usually consist of three multiple movement string quartets by three different composers, divided by an intermission, this hour long, intermission-less performance was a musical smorgasbord, with single movements from works by five different composers.
Opening was the first movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet #3 in D major. It was performed with drama and drive. Especially noticeable was the lush sound of first violinist David Radzynski’s Guadagnini violin.
IPO Concertmaster, Radzynski also introduced each of the selections. The next offerings, Shostakovich’s Adagio from his opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and the Polka from his ballet, The Golden Age, served as contrasts to the warm romanticism of the opening Mendelssohn. The quartet’s comic showmanship highlighted the sardonic humor of the Polka.
Tchaikovsky’s Andante cantabile from his String Quartet could not have received a more heartfelt rendition than what the Israelis rendered. It’s melancholy melodies once brought tears to the eyes of the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, and may have brought tears to the eyes of many in Wednesday night’s audience.
The second movement of Ravel’s impressionistic String Quartet, most of which is played by plucked strings, was an exciting rhythmic romp as the players tossed the themes from one to another.
The final work was the Finale from Haydn’s String Quartet #5, played with precision and classical finesse.
Interestingly, three of the players — first violinist David Radzynski, second violinist Polina Yehudin and violist, Yoni Gertner — all studied at the University of Indiana. Yoni Gertner also served as an Associate Instructor at the school. However, Haran Meltzer, the newly appointed Principal Cellist of the IPO, studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin.
The foursome were a well-matched string quartet. Both Radzynski and Meltzer were playing instruments by Guadagnini and Yehudin was also playing a violin by an old Italian maker. Only Gertner played a modern viola, made by a German luthier. However, their sounds blended beautifully and they played with youthful exuberance.
One of the reasons the concert was only an hour long was because it was preceded by a Gala for the contributors. Sharon Gabriel served as the capable chair, circulating to chat with the guests as they ate
gourmet hors d’oeuvre along with a variety of beverages. She also introduced the concert by giving a brief summary of the IPO’s history, from the formation by the Polish Jewish violinist, Bronislaw Huberman, rescuing Jewish musicians from the Holocaust, to the guest conducting of Leonard Bernstein, the long tenure of conductor Zubin Mehta and the current leadership of native Israeli, Lahav Shani.
For those who missed the wonderful concert of the IPO String Quartet, you can still hear it streamed this
Sunday from its final, San Francisco performance:
Watch as David Radzynski and the rest of the Israel Philharmonic String Quartet (Polina Yehudin, violin; Yoni Gertner, viola; and Haran Meltzer, cello) perform a program featuring Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and more at the 2021 AFIPO San Francisco Gala—streamed in its entirety at the link below. Starting at 5 PM PST.