"While thousands of tiny lights transformed the entrance of the Sugden Theatre into something quite magical, four oh-so-special musicians transformed and transfixed the audience inside for 2 hours...The four musicians who charmed and enchanted the crowd call themselves Quartetto Gelato...The popular foursome filled the intimate theater to the rafters with their distinctive blend of instruments - and one voice. The young, Canadian-based foursome is about as multi-talented as they come. And their instruments: Where else would you hear a Belarus-born, world-class accordion player combine with a Irish jig-performing, glorious tenor-voiced violinist; an oboist who is a quick wit and and has mastered the deceptive art of playing without appearing to breathe; and the cellist playing a saw?..The audience, otherwise sedate and well-mannered, rewarded them with cheers, whistles and a much deserved standing ovation." - Peg Goldberg Longstreth, Dec. 15, 2005 "Light programming, like comedy, is serious business. Quartetto Gelato has the stuff. Dry humor and occasional clowning are part of the quartet's arsenal, yet first it meets the requisite virtues of skilled music-making. Its pleasure-giving is consistent." - Los Angeles Times "Charm, musical beauty, subtlety, wit and sophistication combine to make this classical cabaret CD a winner." - Stereo Review "If there were ever a group of musicians that could make anyone feel at home with classical music, Quartetto Gelato is it." - Newsday (NY) "Quartetto Gelato's performances have a warm, endearing vitality...." - The New York Times

QUARTETTO GELATO

Shalom Bard
clarinet

Peter De Sotto
tenor, violin, mandolin

Alexander Sevastian
accordion, piano

Elinor Frey
cello

The Show Goes On
Quartetto Gelato enchanted despite illness
By M. D. Ridge
Monday, Dec. 18, 2006

"Combining violin, cello, clarinet and accordion takes a certain, well, nerve. This unusual grouping could come off sounding like a consort of unfriendly instruments were it not for the dazzling skills of these fine musicians.

The opening selection, a medley of the carol "Masters in this Hall" began with Peter DeSotto’s plummy tenor and segued into the lively Renaissance dance "The Dargason," by Holst. In the Quartetto’s arrangement, Shalom Bard’s clarinet flittered around impossibly high notes; at one point, the "Greensleeves" melody floated subtly underneath the pyrotechnics. The playlist departed from the program’s printed order because of the Steljes’ absence; but the substitutions were fresh and inviting.

Different players announced each selection with breezy humor. DeSotto mentioned wryly that "Gesu Bambino" meant "Jesus Baby," Alexander Sevastian introduced a Von Weber piece thus: "This was written for symphony but as you see, I am playing an accordion... and I like to play really fast." Apparently so do violinist DeSotto, cellist Elinor Frey and clarinetist Bard; their dizzying speed had audience members gasping.

In the folk tunes of "Rumanian Caravan," Quartetto Gelato began with a vocal line, answered and ornamented by the clarinet; the other instruments joined in, accelerating — and then going faster.

But it wasn’t all breakneck pace and breathlessness. The bittersweet ballad "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Martin and Blaine struck exactly the right note in a lovely arrangement.

Although DeSotto introduced Halvorsen’s arrangement of a Handel Passacaglia as "less chamber music, more World Wide Wrestling," the violin and cello — "Duo Gelato" — was spectacular, with Frey’s outstanding cello ground and DeSott’s very high harmonics.

In a very amusing bit, the trio of violin, cello and clarinet played Leroy Anderson’s modern classic "Sleigh Ride," alternating with Sevastian’s accordion on completely unrelated —and unexpected — songs such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, " "Frosty the Snowman" and the like.

Steljes’ arrangement of Corelli’s Christmas concerto, Concerto Fatto per la Notte di Natale, was pure treat throughout; the wonderful low-key, non-bravura ending was just right. Two other standouts were the ravishing Menuet from Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin and the dancing, syncopated Latin rhythms of "La Flor de la Canela (Cinnamon Flower)."

When husband-and-wife co-founders DeSotto and the late Steljes lived north of Toronto, the owners of their favorite restaurant found out they were musicians and said, "You must come and play here!" Their first concert was a success; different players were added until a foursome "clicked." (They still play at the restaurant once a year.) Quartetto Gelato means "ice cream quartet" — a joke, but they say "the name suited us: Quartetto for the classical side and Gelato for the fun flavorful side with the different musical styles."

They’re quite a group, from a variety of backgrounds. DeScotto played with the Toronto Symphony for ten years and is also a virtuoso gypsy violinist and operatic tenor. Sevastian, born in Belarus, studied music in Minsk and Moscow and has performed all over the world; he and his family moved to Canada in 2001. Bard, born in Haifa, Israel, immigrated to Canada in 1991; he too has performed all over the world as well as in Canada. Juilliard-trained Frey, a native of Seattle, Washington, is an active recitalist, chamber musician, teacher and advocate of new music.

Those who missed the foursome in Hampton can look for their PBS special, Quartetto Gelato — A Concert in the Wine Country, which is due to air Jan. 1. (The wine country of the title is Ontario, not Napa Valley.)"

Click here for previous Review
August 27th, 2006

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