Renowned Cello Quartet Delights with Latin Beat

Despite a fresh coat of snow on the ground and temperatures well below freezing, the Gammons Recital Hall was packed on Sunday, January 8 for an uplifting performance by the Boston Cello Quartet.

Those expecting melancholy strains of moody cello may have been stunned as the four outstanding cellists performed music from their recent album, The Latin Project. Music from Spain and Latin American transported listeners from the New England winter scene outside the window to the sunnier lands of Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, and Spain.

With only their cellos and their great artistry, they were able to evoke the chatter of castanets, the strumming of guitars, the plucking of the bass, the pounding of flamenco dance, and the singing of a seemingly enormous chorus of strings.

Groton School welcomes members of the public to all performances in the Gammons Concert Series, and many residents of the town of Groton joined students, faculty, and staff for Sunday's afternoon performance. The audience responded enthusiastically to the music and the obvious fun the musicians were having themselves as they played.

Anticipation had been high because the four musicians are regular members of one of the best symphony orchestras in the world, the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Groton had booked two years in advance to get on the quartet’s schedule. The concert was well worth the wait, exceeding the highest of expectations.

The Boston Cello Quartet was founded in January 2010 by the four BSO cellists: Blaise Déjardin, Adam Esbensen, Mihail Jojatu, and Alexandre Lecarme. Wishing to explore the possibilities of the instrument they love, the quartet performs  a wide repertoire ranging from classical music to jazz, tango, contemporary works, and even comic medleys. Cellist Déjardin adds to the repertoire with frequent new, original arrangements.

Captivating classical and rock audiences alike, the Boston Cello Quartet made its debut at the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood in August 2011, opening the show for the Grammy Award–winning band “Train.” They debuted with the Boston Pops in May 2013 at Symphony Hall, performing the “James Bond Concertino” by Chris Walden, commissioned for them by the Boston Pops.

A reviewer from Gramophone described the Boston Cello Quartet perfectly when he wrote in April 2016, "The quartet plays with a blend of suavity, succulent vibrato, and simmering passion that serves the music beautifully."

Please join us for the next event in the Gammons Concert Series, February 6, 2017 in Gammons Recital Hall, when Stare Into the Sound—featuring Jamie Dunphy, Teri Kowiak, and Carol Lewis—performs new music for historical instruments.—Mary Ann Lanier, Director of Instrumental Music, Arts Department Head

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