A Captivating Evening with the Balourdet Quartet: A Performance to Remember
Last night, the Cathedral Concert Series featured a performance by the Balourdet Quartet. Although the weather kept some attendees away, those who came enjoyed a wonderful concert. Members of the Balourdet Quartet are violinists Angela Bae, Justin DeFilippis, violist Benjamin Zannoni and cellist Russell Houston.
The stunning Our Lady’s Chapel, widely considered the finest setting for chamber music in Tucson, provided an ideal location for this concert. Violinist Justin DeFilippis provided a concise introduction to the pieces that would be performed. He delivered the information with simplicity and clarity. It is essential to keep in mind that some audience members are experiencing chamber music for the first time and may not be familiar with the composers or musical styles. ¡Muchas gracias, Justin!
The quartet began with Béla Bartók’s String Quartet No. 3, a brief but intense sonata lasting 15 minutes, notable for its harmonic boldness. This was followed by Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F major, with a memorable interpretation of the last two movements: Très lent (very slow) and Vif et agité (lively and agitated).
After the intermission, they delivered a beautiful performance of Johannes Brahms’ String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat major, Op. 67. For the encore, they played "You Are My Sunshine," which moved some audience members to tears.
Once again, the Balourdet Quartet delivered an outstanding performance. Afterward, we went to eat tacos at Karamelo King, located at Grant and Alvernon. They have an early morning flight ahead. Their schedule is quite busy, with upcoming performances including appearances at the New Orleans Friends of Music and at Carnegie Hall, where I performed a few years ago.
I would like to thank everyone who makes this series possible: Bishop Kicanas, members of the Fine Arts Committee, the Catholic Foundation, generous donors, and the staff who support these events.