reviewvancouver: Salish_Sea_Festival_Telemann_Paris_QuartetsPart3

Continuing their presentations of Telemann's Paris Quartets the Salish Sea Early Music Festival this year have made another elegant, interesting and eclectic selection from the full dozen. Music such as this is often described as a conversation among the instruments. This evening there was also stimulating conversation between the players and their four guests, a sonata, two contrasting suites and a concerto, each written for the same ensemble of flute, violin, viola da gamba and continuo yet each distinctively individual.

Soave, `pleasingly', `sweetly' is the direction for the first movement of "Sonata I in A major", and so it was, a gentle welcome to the Quartet itself and to the program. The Allegro picks up speed into a lively progress with birdsong in the air. The following Andante emerges slowly, dissonances unfolding against a transparent strain which is followed by a short, jaunty Vivace.

The substantial "2e Quattuor in A Major," a suite of 6 movements, brought Telemann's vivid writing to the fore, especially with the disarming, quivering Flatteusement which morphs into a smooth Legerement enlivened with dots and triplets. Getting faster, the next movement Un peu vivement has a driving forward movement heading precipitously into the anxious Vite. Finally the Coulemment, alternating between gently bouncy and smoothly flowing sums all up. The musicians went on this adventure together with enthusiasm and a sense of joy.

A quite different "Premiere Suitte in E Minor", a suite of dance movements, opened, as custom dictates with a "Prelude", but a rapid one with Cohan and Greenberg duetting superbly together. The rhythmic Rigaudon was both eminently danceable and utterly elegant. This was followed by a deeply affecting "Air." In the Replique, violin and flute engage in polite exchange and compete in extravagant passages, firmly controlled by the dynamic Susie Napper on viola da gamba and Elisabeth Wright on harpsichord. A delicate and appealing Menuet followed, closed by a lively Gigue.

Three short slow movements woven between three longer fast movements in the final quartet, "Concerto I in G Major" wrapped up the program. The contrasts are affecting and, in the hands - and breath - of the performers, lightly happy. The final Allegro, gently swaying like a coach and horse ambling home at the end of the day, was deeply satisfying.

Susie Napper and Jeffrey Cohan with Maike Albrecht, soprano and Hans-Jürgen Schnoor, harpsichord, return with a program of Bach and Handel on Tuesday, May 12. Same place, same time. Don't miss it.