Jerusalem Quartet Soars at The Temple
Classical music fans and those wanting a lift in spirit enjoyed four world-famous string musicians.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Souls soared on Monday night, Nov. 11, at The Temple where the internationally acclaimed Jerusalem Quartet performed for the final stop of their 30th season.
Of note, this concert, presented by the Temple Chamber Players, was previously postponed because of the events of Oct. 7,2023.
On that Monday night, four musicians wove emotion, skill, and to some extent the human condition. Event sponsors were Kent and Dr. Diane Alexander. Diane, a plastic surgeon, is a classically trained cellist. Asked why they decided to sponsor the event, she told the AJT, “Exquisite classical music has always created a special space for reverie and contemplation. With all that’s going on in Israel and here at home, what better time for the Jerusalem Quartet to make that space available to as many people as possible?”
The “night” actually began during the day at 2 p.m. with an art show by Ori Gabrieli with several Israeli artists and craftsmen spread out in the Schwartz-Goldstein Hall. Centered around a tallis maker, the art show featured jewelry, paintings, metals, shofars, and crafts.
After the concert, dessert was served with the last chance to revisit the pop-up gallery to invest in art and select Chanukah gifts.
The Temple sanctuary has long been known for its elevated beauty under a ruby “eternal light” backdropped by gold forms. The concert was particularly intimate because of the two jumbotrons focused on the musicians’ able fingers, their yellow hostage pins, pocket kerchiefs, their wedding bands, and carefully coifed personae. Close up plucking and stroking made for an immersive journey and provided feelings of transcendence, enjoying the present moment in a heightened state of mindfulness.
If fingers had wings, flight took place with every range and wipe of the bow. The players were: Kyril Zlotnikov on lone cello, Alexander Pavlovsky and Sergei Bresler on violin, and Ori Kam playing the viola.
Post-performance, pianist Judy Cole told the AJT, “It was refreshing to sit back and relax and observe these artists at the top of the chamber world. When I was teaching at Kennesaw State University, they were known as the finest string quartet. It was indeed thrilling.”
Longtime Temple member Carol Nemo added, “Tonight was outstanding; and just think about their concentration and all the things their families are dealing with back home.”
The concert began with Mozart’s “String Quartet in C major, K. 465,” followed by Shostakovich’s “String Quartet No. 12 in D Flat major, Op. 133,” with an intermission. The conclusion was Brahms “String Quartet No. 3 in B Flat major, Op.67.”
Whether most spectators had much depth about this content or note, there was a balance and mutual respect with no “voice’ overshadowing the other. Often, applause was tentative with some seeming unsure if the piece had actually concluded, but appreciation built with shouts of “bravo.”
Temple Beth Tikvah Cantor Nancy Kassel stated, “I grew up here at The Temple. Tonight was rare to have the opportunity to hear such quality and to support Israeli artists.”
The concert was introduced by Temple Cantor Tracy Scher, who welcomed the crowd with, “If we can’t be in Israel, we can bring Israel to us.”
Deputy Consul General of Israel for Atlanta and the Southeast, Anna Shteingart, explained that “tonight is about culture, not war.”
The quartet made international headlines this spring when The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands, canceled their concert amid demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas War. The performance was later reinstated due to the global public outcry.
The Jerusalem Quartet’s future tour will include more cities worldwide — Portland, London. Zurich, Cleveland, Houston, Miami, Iowa City, Cincinnati, Monterrey, Mexico, and return to the Konzerthaus in Berlin and the Theatre Camps-Elysees, Paris. They have released 16 albums under the Harmonia Mundi label starting in 2005, and the quartet now records for the BIS label. One past album explored Jewish music in Central Europe between the wars including Yiddish cabaret songs from Warsaw in the 1920s.
This event was made possible in partnership with JFGA, AJC-Atlanta, The Breman, Israel Bonds, Consulate of Israel and Neranenah.
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