‘Quattrocelli’ a hit at Border Concert

“Quattrocelli”—the name says it all.
Four cellos—under the masterful control of a quartet of superb musicians from Germany—had the audience applauding with as much enthusiasm as at any Border Concert in recent memory.
The quartet hit the Backus Auditorium stage in International Falls last Tuesday (March 2) in the Border Concert Association’s latest offering in this season’s series. And judging by the post-concert buzz, this show was viewed by many as one of the best ever.
From their opening number, J.S. Bach’s “Air,” Quattrocelli began to weave their magic on the audience with a virtuosity and technical perfection that was spellbinding.
In true democratic fashion, none of the musicians assumed the role of leader, and in each piece, the melody line bounced effortlessly back and forth from one instrument to another.
The concert, aptly titled “Kaleidoscope,” featured an eclectic range of classical music, pop, and folk songs, and even movie themes—all of which were brilliantly arranged by two of the group’s members, Lucas Dreyer and Matthias Truck.
The mood was upbeat and often hilarious as all four members in turn showcased their individual virtuosity in selections such as Fritz Kreisler’s “Liebesleid,” de Falla’s well-known “Ritual Fire Dance,” and “Miserlou,” in which one cello did double duty as a percussion instrument.
Despite a relaxed appearance on stage, Quattrocelli’s astounding precision and dynamics were achieved by almost continuous eye contact among the members of the quartet.
They seemed rarely to look at their music, preferring instead to communicate with each other by the slightest nod of the head or a subtly raised eyebrow.
These four cellists proved they can handle a wide variety of musical styles, but their fondness for jazz was evident all through the concert. A sparkling arrangement of five familiar Gershwin melodies was sandwiched between the theme from “Rhapsody in Blue.”
They also played four selections by German saxophonist/composer Helmuth Brandt, in which the tight jazz harmonies were nothing less than spine-tingling.
Quattrocelli dispelled any preconceptions that four cellos on a concert stage equals an evening of quiet chamber music. With their fresh, free-wheeling, rhythmic show, they gave the Border Concert audience a performance to remember for a long time.
After being given a standing ovation, Quattrocelli played as an encore, Frank Sinatra’s signature hit, “My Way.” A more fitting choice could not have been made, for Quattrocelli certainly “did it their way.”