Return of the Native SonOn the Thursday after the coaching with Timothy Eddy [see "Coaching with Tim Eddy"], the PSQ met up in Ithaca, NY for a concert at a vineyard several miles from the site of Heath and Tai’s wedding two days later. (The wedding was incredible by the way, but that is another blog entry perhaps?) It was the first time we had met since the coaching with Mr. Eddy and we were eager to try out the new approach. The vineyard was packed, as many old friends of the Ruth family came to see Sebastian and to learn more about this crazy project he had developed down in Providence since leaving Ithaca for Brown University back in 1993. Also, many of Heath and Tai’s friends and family had rolled in early for the weekend wedding. The energy and vibe in the room was tremendous, and the crowd boisterously welcomed Sebastian and the PSQ. After greeting everyone and offering a brief explanation of the Janacek “Kreutzer Sonata,” we took a few moments to get in character for the first movement before pulling the trigger.
In fact, for both the Janacek and Smetana, we tried to take a few extra moments to “change costumes” before each movement. The performances of both quartets felt alive, dramatic and gripping for us and (we hope) for the audience. Past just trying to play together and in tune, we were focusing on bringing out the drama of these passionate works to the best of our ability. The result was incredibly satisfying and the audience was enthusiastic and grateful. Ithaca’s native son had returned and delivered the goods! -Jesse Holstein, Providence String Quartet
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