(Above: Soul of Brazil is the title of a special June 14, 2022 concert by the Delgani String Quartet at the Wildish Community Theater; see below for details.)
By Daniel Buckwalter
The sweet sound of string chamber music ended another Eugene run in late May inside the sanctuary of Eugene’s First Church of Christ, Scientist.
From the familiar — Franz Joseph Hayden and Johannes Brahms — to the contemporary repertoire of Boston-based composer Elena Ruehr, Delgani String Quartet closed out another season with its Dance of Joy concert on May 22 and 24 before appreciative audiences.
It is always a delight not just t0 hear the foursome at work, but to see the expressiveness of each player as they either soar with the lyrical movements or make wonderful melodies in the dance-like movements.
Such was the case with Ruehr’s piece, her String Quartet No. 3, in which I heard the American West, be it square dancing, a melodic bird’s eye view of open terrain and a galloping horse ride in pasture land.
Violinists Anthea Kreston and Jannie Wei, violist Kimberlee Uwate and cellist Eric Alterman skillfully took audience members — as well as those viewing on the live stream — on a beautiful ride.
I always regret the end of concert seasons, especially a Delgani season, and I look forward to the start of its next season. That won’t happen for Delgani until October. It’s a long wait.
The summer months will not be completely barren, though.
Delgani returns for one concert June 14 — Soul of Brazil — at the Wildish Community Theater in Springfield, a concert of Brazilian music for quartet and voice.
It features compositions by composer Clarice Assad as well as arrangements of bossa nova works by Tom Jobim.
All fans of Delgani will want to head to Springfield that night for a music trip through Brazil.
(Note: The Soul of Brazil concert originally was scheduled for June 17, 2022; it has been changed in order not to conflict with the opening day of the Oregon Bach Festival.)
Delgani String Quartet: Soul of Brazil
When: 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Where: Wildish Community Theater, 630 Main St., Springfield
Tickets: $28-$35, available from the Wildish Community Theater, online at wildishtheater.com
Information: 541-868-0689 or wildishtheater.com
