The Quatuor Ébène impressed audiences around the world, not the least since their winning the ARD Competition in 2004. In Washington Pierre Colombet (first violin), Gabriel Le Magadure (second violin), Mathieu Herzog (viola), and Raphaël Merlin (cello) last played in 2006 where they offered repertoire staples (Bartók, Haydn, Ravel) at the Corcoran and examples of their other passion – Jazz – at the Library of Congress. On March 6th, they will embark on their first big North American tour, starting in Boston, criss-crossing the country by hitting Oklahoma, Gainsville, Portland, Seattle, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and – fortunately – Washington DC at the Library of Congress on March 13th. Even for a town spoiled with great chamber music, this recital of Debussy, Fauré, and Ravel should be circled in all music enthusiasts’ calendards.
On August 18th this year, they gave their Salzburg Festival debut at the gorgeous Large Concert Hall of the Mozarteum. Their last concert before a months worth of vacation, it was at first a nervous, then free-wheeling, and on the whole triumphant debut.
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I saw the Ebene Quartet at La Maison Francaise just this past May. They were a sublime group once they got past the Haydn to Debussy and Ravel.
ReplyDeleteI just heard the Ebene Quartet at the Library of Congress in their CD programme of the Ravel, Faure, and debussy Quartets (in that order). It was an incredible concert, probing in its intensity, nuanced in dynamics down to miraculous pianissimos, and played with passion, sensitivity, and cohesive ensemble. For once in Washington DC, the performers deserved the standing ovation they received, and they rewarded the audience with a most unusual and delightful encore---jazz and vocals.
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