39° and Sunny
Image
Above, Live Arts String Quartet founder, Don Krishnaswami, shares a selfie of himself and the capacity museum crowd at the start of the free concert, Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Franklin Historical Museum.
It was a standing room only event for the two-hour classical extravaganza, yet even those unable to find seating not only stayed, they clapped and clapped for more at the end.
A special "bonus" came at the start of the event with the debut of the strinq quartet transcription of the Grand Franklin March, published in 1873 by a Franklin music educator, Edwin Trowbridge, who later launched a successful piano manufacturing company in town. The music was recently rediscovered by Reference Library Vicki Earls. It is likely that it hasn't been performed anywhere for more than a century. A local composer, who chose anonymity behind the pen name, Franklin Bellingham, turned the original piano music into an ensemble treat which the LASQ breezed through, setting the stage for Mozart's String Quartet in D major (K. 575), Beethoven's String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 18 No. 6. and the Brahms String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1.
The conclusion of the program brought the audience to its feet, clapping furiously, their enthusiasm rewarded with the performance of yet another treat from the ensemble reperetoire, the Finale from Haydn String Quartet Opus 74, No. 2.
Founder, Don Krishnaswami's conclusion: "the people want the Live Arts String Quartet here in Franklin!"
In addition to Krishnaswami, who is a violist, the rest of the ensemble includes Gregory Vitale, who serves as Concertmaster for the Boston Landmarks Orchestra; Katherine Winterstein, who is the Concertmaster of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra; and, Emmanuel Feldman who has performed with Bobby McFerrin and the Boston Pops, among others. John Williams called Feldman, "a truly dedicated artist."
Krishnaswami is now working to refine the funding for the organization through corporate sponsors, a GoFundMe page, and perhaps admission fees in the future. And he is hopeful the ensemble will be able to set up another performance date in the New Year.
(photo below, background edited, by Mia Krishnaswami)
|
|
|
