Opening night of Howe Sound Arts Association's concert season shone brightly. For a brief two hours last Friday evening (Oct. 1), an appreciative audience sat transfixed as the Borealis String Quartet cast its spell.
The ensemble is UBC's first resident professional string quartet. In less than two years, Borealis has established a stellar reputation as a leading-edge Canadian ensemble.
Each of the musicians -Patricia Shih, first violinist; Yuel Yawney, violin; Nikita Pogrebnoy, viola; and Joel Stobbe, cello - has appeared in their successful solo careers with major chamber groups and orchestras around the world.
The intimate Eagle Eye Community Theatre in Squamish is ideally suited to Chamber music. The program began with the Haydn String Quartet in D major, Op. 64, No. 5 (The Lark). By the second movement, the musicians displayed a fine unity, both musically and physically, as if eight hands played as one.
The Shostakovich String Quartet, No. 4 in D major burst into existence and highlighted Borealis's exquisite tonal variation - as vivid and colourful as their name suggests. The rich orchestral sound filled the hall and seemed to come from more than four instruments.
For the second half of the program, distinguished pianist Robert Silverman joined the musicians for the Dvorak Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81. The five performed with a finely crafted balance where each instrument enhanced the whole. The final chords of the Quintet accelerated to an electrifying finish.
Robert Silverman returns to Squamish Feb. 4 and 5, 2005 for a solo evening concert and a shorter Saturday matinee. For more information, visit Howe Sound Art's website at www.howesoundarts.org.
