Libertadores
String Quartet played Aberdeen's Cowdray Hall on the 4th
of November.
The
Quartet are all members of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of
Venezuela and are products of "El Sistema" the musical
education system developed in Venezuela by Maestro Jose Antonio
Abreu.
In
Venezuela currently 300,000 children are being educated in this
manner. The intention being to produce not just musicians but
happy adults with skills of teamwork, confidence, pride and aspiration to help them prosper.
The
charity Sistema Scotland seeks to replicate
this work through its Big Noise project in the Raploch area of
Stirling and also in Govanhill in Glasgow.
Interest has been expressed in Dundee and Aberdeen (hence the
concert) about being the next location in Scotland for this work.
There
were many reasons to go to the concert, aside from a simple enjoyment
of chamber music, or a general interest in musical education.
An
interest in the Bolivarian revolution which supported and nurtured El
Sistema and an interest in regenerating the City of Aberdeen and
defeating poverty also figured in the reasons that brought a broad
cross-section of people to attend.
No
doubt this mass appeal accounted for the full and appreciative
audience that the Quartet found in the stuffy setting of the Cowdray
Hall. As well as the usual chamber music crowd, there were a large
number of diaspora Venezuelans (Aberdeen and Venezuela share a
current interest in oil reserves).
Civic dignitaries shared the hospitality of the Lord
Provost before the gig. It would be good to see the city put its
weight behind the establishment of a Big Noise project in Aberdeen.
Bringing
up the rear were a large number of people (like myself) who are not
regular attenders at chamber music events but were glad of this
opportunity to do so.
Like
the Venezuelans we had to buy our tickets and we were not
disappointed. Many of us share an interest in regenerating what is
the most unequal of all of Scotland's cities. We were keen to show
our support for Sistema Scotland and attempts to expand their current
projects.
The
programme started with Mozart's String Quartet No.17 K458 “The
Hunt”. I must confess that I've never been a fan of this piece.
That is clearly my loss as the audience showed their appreciation on
all sides.
Continuing
with an early Beethoven Quartet No. 11 Op.95 “Serioso”, the lads
showed great rhythmic assurance and grasp of the dynamics of the
piece. Again, not one of my favourites.
After
these two examples of the European quartet repertoire came a fine
noisy interval.
Fruit
punch was served. Alas the alcohol had been reserved for the civic
dignitaries. This just made the traditional Venezuelan punch all the
more acceptable for the large number of children in the audience.
First
violinist Eddie Cordero made a brief speech recalling that the first
international recognition that El Sistema received was back in 1976
when the fledgling orchestra was invited to play at the Aberdeen
International Youth Festival.
The
music continued with a piece from Argentinean composer Alberto
Ginastera. String Quarter No. 1 Op.20.
The
first movement is marked “violento ed agitato” and they weren't
kidding. It was edgy, it was full of movement, as well as being
cerebral it was visceral.
The
second movement built on the first and really brought out the life in
the piece and the players. Lots of left hand pizzicatto and con legno
passages added to the interest.
The
third movement “Calmo e poetica” was played with mutes on all the
instruments.
The
final movement “Allegramente rustico” was full of effects evoking
guitar sounds almost, with rhythms of rural dances and knocking on
the wood of the instruments.
In
case you can't tell, this reviewer loved it. The audience did as
well.
As
already referred to, not a traditional chamber music audience. How
could one tell?
The
usual convention about not applauding at the end of individual
movements but only at the end of the piece was totally and happily
ignored.
The
audience showed their appreciation freely and truthfully and the
performances on stage were the better of it.
Not
one but two encores followed. The favourite for me was the quartet's
setting of a Chick Corea piano piece “Senor Mouse”.
Loved
it. You can find out more about El Sistema in Scotland by visiting
the website at
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