Symphony String Quartet

ConcertConnect
Symphony String Quartet
Calvary Presbyterian Church
April 11, 2010 at 4pm

Florin Parvulescu (violin)
Leor Maltinski (violin)
David Kim (viola)
Angela Lee (cello)

Haydn: Quartet in D Major, Op.64 no.5
Dvorak: Terzetto for 2 violins and viola op.74
Schubert: Quartet in A Minor D804 "Rosamunde"

On Sunday afternoon, during a break in the rain, I attended this beautifully played recital at Calvary Presbyterian in Pacific Heights. It was one of those concerts where, after the 1st bars, all I wanted to do was enjoy the music & the playing. I especially welcomed the melancholy opening movements of the Schubert. The members of the quartet, with the exception of cellist Angela Lee, are from the SF Symphony. Their performance was clean, musical & refined. Florin Parvulescu played 1st violin for the Haydn & Dvorak. I liked his fluid bow arm. It was nice to have all 3 musicians stand for the lively Dvorak Terzetto. Leor Maltinsky played 1st violin for the Schubert, & his expressive playing has a kind of natural rubato that is very pleasing. Amazingly, the quartet had only been playing together for a week, during which the Symphony members already had a full schedule. They were all very motivated to do this concert, though, & their commitment showed.

The ConcertConnect series is a ministry of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, with the proceeds of each concert benefiting a local charity, in this case the San Francisco Foodbank. They obviously need do more to get the word out, as there were only about 30 people in attendance. There was a reception afterward, at which cheese, wine & cookies were offered. I was briefly introduced to Mr. Maltinski, who is very nice.