Marian Anderson Quartet: Seattle favorite plays Piazzolla, Still, and Mendelssohn

Tuesday marked the end of a two week residency for the Marian Anderson String Quartet.  The residency began in October, with the ensemble mentoring string students in Seattle schools.  In the final week, the group continued to work with students, but also closed out the residency with a performance at the University of Washington’s Meany Hall.

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The Marian Anderson Quartet has been a favorite with Seattle audiences for years now.  It’s easy to see why.  Their easy demeanor and willingness to talk, banter, and rib the audience is disarming.  This attitude carries over to their playing which is versatile, effortless, and full bodied.  It has to be.  The group tackles unfamiliar music as willingly as they delve into standard repertoire.

Two of the three pieces the group chose for their recital are off the beaten path – William Grant Still’s “Danzas de Panama” and Astor Piazzolla’s “Four for Tango.”  The final piece on their program was Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in D Major, Op. 44, Nr. 1.  The group added this piece for sentimental reasons.  When the group won the International Cleveland Quartet Competition – becoming the first African American quartet to do so – it was their playing of this Mendelssohn string quartet that secured victory.

In all three pieces the group showcased their well-rounded talents.  Piazzolla and Still’s dance rhythms were handled easily and with obvious joy.  The ensemble played the Mendelssohn quartet – a piece more familiar and traditional in form – with warmth and finesse.  The foursome massaged Mendelssohn’s melodies, giving the work depth and capitalizing on the romantic pulse of the genius composer.

The Marian Anderson Quartet took questions from the audience in between the halves of the concert.  They also treated the audience to a surprise performance from a quartet of students they have been helping.  The students played the first movement of Dvorak’s “American” string quartet.  Even though the addition of the student quartet and question and answer session was refreshing, it went on too long.  The performance by the student quartet and the time the quartet spent talking with the audience was as long or longer than Piazzolla and Still’s music.

I have no doubt the Marian Anderson Quartet will return to Seattle.  Because of their involvement in the community and commitment to education, they have established a loyal following among educators and music lovers.  I do, however, hope next time the group spends less time talking and more time letting the audience experience their exceptional playing.