Candlelight Concerts Presents EUCLID QUARTET SPECIAL: CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF BEETHOVEN Review – Some Enchanted Evening

Posted on by Ann Boland

The Newberry Library’s formidable Romanesque entrance on Walton Street felt like a European performance space at dusk.  Attendees filtered through Washington Square Park and around the corners from Clark Street and Dearborn Street.  There was no mad rush of taxis or Ubers, just interested folks from the neighborhood happy to be experiencing joyful music in their local place of civic pride.  The house (200 seats) was full.

Fever Originals' Candlelight Concert Creates a Special Environment

There would be no candlelight were it not for the LED-fueled mass of candles that surrounded the platform on which the Euclid Quartet performed their musical magic.  City fire laws don’t allow real candles at such performances.  This is new technology creating the atmospheric past.  The audience sat on upright side chairs, also reminiscent of those found in European musical performance spaces, surrounding the platform.

The Best of the Best : the Euclid Quartet and Beethoven

For 65 minutes the Euclid Quartet brought us the best of the best of Beethoven’s string quartets from his early and middle periods.  They cherry-picked a most romantic movement: Quartet no. 1 Op.18 Mvt:2 Adagio, thought to be influenced by Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.  They hurled themselves at the most frenetic:  Quartet no. 4 Op 18 Mvt 4 Allegro.  The audience rose to applaud them at the finale: Quartet no. 3 Op 59 Mvt: 3: Minuette & Mvt 4: Allegro Molto.  There was no doubting of the greatness of Beethoven, nor of the interpretation by the globally renowned Euclid Quartet.

Bring Children Interested in Musical Performance

Several families brought adolescent children.**  They were seated in the closest row, up close and personal to great performers.  What an engrossing experience compared to the distance of a Chicago Symphony concert!

In this reviewer’s opinion, Fever Original’s Candlelight Concerts are bringing yet another way to enjoy The Newberry Library, a Chicago institution and a great neighbor.  The production was excellent for a classical music lover, and the venue was suited to the candlelight atmosphere.  Similar concerts (programming and venues) are now being produced by Fever Originals in select US and worldwide locations.

 

**Fever Originals clarifies that only children 8 and older may attend.

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Fever Originals' next Chicago Candlelight Special will be at the Stan Mansion on March 14th.  They return  to the Newberry Library on March 25th and April 7th.  Each performance features different composers and musical groups.  Please visit the Fever Originals' Candlelight Concerts webpage for more information and tickets.

Members of the Euclid Quartet--

Violinist Jameson Cooper (Great Britain)
Violinist Brendan Shea (United States)
Violist Luis Enrique Vargas (Venezuela)
Cellist Jacqueline Choi (South Korea).

Photos: Crave The Agency

Ann Boland
Portrait by Paul Sierra

Reviewer Ann Boland is committed to Chicago theater. Involved in the audience since the early 80’s, she’s witnessed firsthand the rise of our theater scene, our exceptional local talent, and the vigor of each new generation.  Ann handles public relations for authors and works on programs to help seniors with neurological movement disorders.  Please visit her website for more information.  

 

Click here to read more Picture this Post reviews by Ann Boland.

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