|
|
 |
| |
| |
A winning combination
REVIEW: THE ELYSIAN QUARTET
Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No 2
THE MACBETH
CROSSOVER music has often been accused of lacking passion – its attempt to fuse classical and popular music diminishing both.
But launching their theatrical second album in the dimly lit Macbeth pub, the Elysian Quartet and Gabriel Prokofiev, grandson of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, proved the critics wrong.
At the non-classical club night in Hoxton, the quartet and Prokofiev showcased four bawdy movements from the album, with remixes of the same piece by the likes Hot Chip, Vex’d, The Earlyman, Paul Conboy, Starkey, Marcus Lancaster and Eric Shinn and their respective interpretations.
While the mixes are accomplished and funky, nothing could match the stimulating and absorbing musical performance by talented violinists Emma Smith and Jennymay Logan, Vince Sipprell on viola and cellist Laura Moody.
Prokofiev’s exciting writing balances just enough jazz, blues and classical melody to complement his abrasive, syncopated, staccato-fused, techno-influenced musical phrases.
Flexible and mutually responsive, the quartet shone during a 25-minute improvisation. Starting with long echoing tones, their innovative techniques, produced sensitively woven sounds resembling both animals and machines, including sawing the bridge of the violin, and scratching and tapping the body of their instruments.
They built up to a heavenly finale leaving the audience awed and enlivened.
SARA NEWMAN |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
