Showing off with Shostakovich

July 28, 2010 · Filed Under Festivals in the News, News

Pacifica Quartet presents program with lucidity, fire

By Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen

Pacifica Quartet performs during Chamberfest in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper St. @ O’Connor. The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival 2010 runs from July 24 to Aug. 7, 2010. The Pacifica Quartet is an internationally recognized string quartet based in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. Simin Ganatra (first violin), Sibbi Bernhardsson (second violin), Brandon Vamos (cello) and Musumi Per Rostad (viola/alto).

Photograph by: Mike Carroccetto, the Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA-Three consecutive evenings, three top-notch string quartets: the Claudel-Canimex on Sunday, the Afiara on Monday and on Tuesday it was the Pacifica Quartet with an all-Shostakovich program.

Some people consider Shostakovich the Beethoven of the 20th century. Others think of him more as a musical Ingmar Bergman. Both views have merit. Shostakovich and Beethoven have many things in common in their output, and neither composer is difficult to understand. However, in place of Beethoven’s unquenchable optimism, Shostakovich’s music is often couched in gloom and irony.

Tags: Ottawa International Chamber Festival, Pacifica Quartet, Shostakovich