An Unforgettable Performance
The outstanding Polish String Ensemble, known as Quartet Equilibrium, performed a magnificent chamber music recital on July 17 within the Bachcelona Festival. This event took place in the emblematic Sala Parés, where the group presented an attractive dialogue between the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and different later composers. The selection of pieces, made by the members of the Quartet Equilibrium, included established figures such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn, as well as two lesser-known composers, originally from Poland, Jósef Elsner and Karol Kurpiński, who completed a program of great intimacy and musical exquisiteness.
Bach as a Starting Point
Bach was presented as the common thread that connected the different works performed in the concert. The performance began with the first counterpoint of L’art de la fugue, BWV 1080. Through this piece, the Quartet Equilibrium showed impressive interpretive strength, producing a dense, compact and powerful sound that made the four instruments seem to merge into one. Cellist Tomasz Pokrzywiński offered a very educational analysis of the relationship between the different composers who were part of the program. It was mentioned that Mozart adapted a number of fugues from the second volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier for the string quartet, with Mendelssohn being the famous precursor of the great master’s works.
A Testimony of Excellence
Polish composers Jósef Elsner and Karol Kurpiński were featured on this occasion by the Ensemble. Their works proved to be of great interest. After the evocative prelude to Bach’s Cello Suite No. 2, the quartet displayed a distinctly Mozartian style in the transcribed fugues. The performers played with remarkable energy and vitality, although at certain moments the richness of the sound seemed a little overwhelming. Even so, the interpretation of the variations proved to be of great clarity.
Exploring Classicism and Romanticism
Jósef Elsner, a contemporary of Ludwig van Beethoven, was represented with the Quartet Op. 8 Number 1, a work written in pure classical language in 1799, which stood out for its elegance and sophistication without being overshadowed by Mozart. The quality of the Quartet Equilibrium allowed us to appreciate its ability to tackle the most complex compositions with notable excellence.
A Musical Journey Without Borders
In the second part of the program, the atmosphere became more romantic with the works of Mendelssohn and Kurpiński. Mendelssohn’s “Fugue,” part of the four Pieces for String Quartet, Op. 81, was intended to pay homage to Beethoven’s later quartets, including the famous Great Fugue, Op. of clear sound, showing an evident unity and complicity among the instrumentalists.
An Apotheotic Closing
With no time for pauses, Kurpiński’s Fantasy for String Quartet in C major closed the recital, linking perfectly with Mendelssohn’s fugue. This work, a sign of the Sturm und Drang style typical of the 18th century, was characterized by its agitated and passionate character. The four musicians showed an incredible connection, transmitting an impressive vital energy, always with technical control and outstanding definition of the melodic lines. The ending was electrifying, leaving the audience completely captivated.
An enriching experience
Listening to chamber music in person becomes a rewarding experience for lovers of the arts. Therefore, the opportunity to rediscover new composers represents an even greater pleasure. The Quartet Equilibrium has proven to be a solid group that, in its barely seven years of experience, is capable of tackling the most complicated works with exceptional brilliance.