By John and Kathrin Korngold Hubbard
Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s granddaughter Kathrin trained as a professional violinist, and met her future husband John Hubbard, a professional cellist, while playing in ensembles together. With our website Assistant Editor, Troy Dixon, they provide the following review and reminiscences of a chamber recital given during the week of Korngold memorial events in Vienna.
28 November 2007 – Vienna, Musikverein.
Tonight, the Aron Quartett, joined by pianist, Henri Sigfridsson, presented a chamber recital in the Brahms Salle at the renowned Musikverein. The program’s offerings were the Haydn String Quartet, Hob. III: 76, Schubert’s String Quartet in a minor “Rosamunde”, D. 804 and the Korngold Quintet in E Major for two violins, viola, cello and piano, op. 15. Each of the works was masterfully performed, providing a memorable evening for those in attendance.
The “Quinten” Quartet was played with great taste and style, albeit with a nod to Haydn’s folk music origins. The Schubert, again, was profound and sweet, played with control and elegance.
From the opening measures of the Korngold Quintet, one could sense a palpable change in the level of energy and passion. We had clearly left the classical period behind. Mr. Sigfridsson began the piece with such assertion and energy that it was immediately transferred to the members of the Aron Quintett, who played with equal vigor and enthusiasm. Sigfridsson, an imposing man, played the famously virtuosic piano part with ease and grace; powerful yet supple, with fine articulation, and an assuredness of tone. The Quartet expanded their tonal range to balance Sigfridsson note for note. Despite the rapid tempo of the third movement, the players never faltered and brought the work to a resounding and dramatic conclusion, eliciting several curtain calls from the appreciative audience.