By David Beech
The St. Lawrence string quartet rounded out a strong Chamber Music Monterey Bay season at Sunset Center last night with impassioned performances of works by Haydn, John Adams and Mendelssohn. The homogeneity and warmth of their tone were remarkable, the quartet sounding like a single rich instrument expressing the musical ideas in a flow of liquid gold. Together with much brilliant passage work, this was virtuosity of a high order. The visual effect was also striking, not only for the fine floral display to the side of the stage, but for the footwork of the players which deserved some comments from a ballet critic. At times both violinists had both feet off the floor, the cellist went on his toes, and the viola rocked back on high stiletto heels. The first violinist also exhibited a wide repertoire of knee movements, and yet, closing one’s eyes, one could confirm that none of this display detracted from the pure musical quality of the sound produced.
