This past Friday the Wesley Chapel was filled with a moderately sized but enthusiastic audience to hear the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, an ensemble of four Russian cellists who have toured the world and received much critical acclaim in the 12 years since their creation. Their performance here several years ago left a strong impression on the community. According to former music faculty Dr. Robert Galloway who organized Artist Series concerts in the past, “[They] were a tremendous hit;… and I had students begging me to bring them back.” The Rastrelli Quartet’s repeat performance was certainly not a disappointment and had the audience cheering, begging for an encore which the performers generously provided.
The quartet members were equally pleased to be coming back to Houghton. “The second time back in this beautiful region feels like home,” said Kira Kraftzoff, the group’s artistic director. “In Russia, young people go to the classical music concerts before going to clubs. Seeing college students at concerts is wonderful.” They loved not just the audience but the hall, “We’ve played all over the world and this is one of our favorite halls to play in. You have one of the 5 best stages in the world.”
“They truly are world class,” said Dr. Stephen Plate, Director of the Greatbatch School of Music who is now in charge of the Artist Series as well. The Irish Times of Dublin says of them, “…each is a virtuoso in his own right, and together they play with a sense of musical purpose and personal camaraderie that is infectious.” Indeed, among their members the quartet possesses numerous awards, honors, and contest prizes and their technical proficiency is truly incredible. However the most inspiring part of their playing is their unity and the deep passion they express in their performances. Whether a tarantella, tango, swings, classical or opera arias, Rastrelli handles all genres with energy and masterful interpretation.
“The artist series is about performances which are otherworldly,” said Plate about his vision of the Artist Series concerts in my interview with him, “They are to inspire us to think larger than we are.” While classical concerts will still be the primary focus as they have been in the past the broader goal is to bring in world-class performers in any genre not easily accessible in Allegany county. “Artists come in all different shapes and sizes… I hope to bring in some excellent jazz performers among other less represented events.” The repertoire of the Rastrelli Cello Quartet is ideal to this goal of a broader definition of “artist.” Their program on Friday contained opera excerpts, arrangements of folk music of various kinds, and modern and jazz music, all the arrangements exquisitely done by the quartet’s own Sergio Drabkin. “It’s not about ‘classical’ vs. ‘jazz’ vs. ‘popular,’” said Kraftzoff. “What are these anyway? Just names. 150 years ago it wasn’t ‘classical’ music, it was just… music. For me it is simply good music versus bad music whether ‘jazz,’ ‘classical,’ or ‘popular.’”
The next Artist Series event is pianist Ning An, who will perform January 24th.