Nothing cools off a humid summer night like well-played chamber music, and in its second presentation of the season, Princeton University Summer concerts offered a delightful and energizing ensemble. The Adaskin String Trio, comprised of violin, viola and cello, teamed up with oboist Thomas Gallant to perform two refreshing 18th century quartets to a full house at Richardson Auditorium.
Thomas Gallant is billed as one of the world's few virtuoso solo oboists, and his repertoire and playing expertise clearly lean toward the 17th and 18th centuries. He plays an apparently modern instrument, but in a style reflecting the softer timbres of the classical period. In both Josef Fiala's Quartet No. 2 for Oboe and Strings and Mozart's Quartet in F Major for Oboe and Strings, Mr. Gallant was noticeably careful with the very high notes of the instrument, but very fluid on the long lines and instrumental fioratora. In both of these works (Fiala was Mozart's oboist in the Salzburg orchestra, so the works were somewhat similar), quick musical lines were passed among instruments. Violinist Emlyn Ngai, violist Steve Larson and cellist Mark Fraser were all adept at the classical style, including subtle dynamic shifts as phrases repeated.
The next concert will be July 6 in the Richardson Auditorium. Free tickets will be available before the concert at the box office.
Josef Fiala's quartet was similar in lightness to the 18th century divertimento, and all instruments spoke well in the acoustics of the hall. Violin and viola were often paired in thirds, and Mr. Ngai and Mr. Larson were perfectly matched in timbre and finesse. The "Rondeau" of Mozart's quartet called for very quick playing from the oboe, especially in the second episode.
The strings alone explored the nuances of two contrasting trios: Beethoven's Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello in c minor and a string trio by Lennox Berkeley, a relatively unknown British composer of the 20th century. A contemporary of Benjamin Britten (the two composed one work together), Berkeley was probably more influenced by his studies with French pedagogue Nadia Boulanger and his association with Maurice Ravel. His String Trio, Op. 19, composed in 1943 juxtaposed solo violin against a rather jazzy viola and cello accompaniment. At times violin and viola played in the same register, and Mr. Ngai derived an especially mellow sound from the violin in the second movement "Adagio" against the palette of pizzicato viola and cello.
Beethoven's String Trio rounded out the program well with the three string players performing with efficient dynamic effects and well-contained phrases. In this trio, the instruments speak more individually, and well conveyed the hints of the Beethoven ferocity to come in his later quartets. The "Finale" in particular had a great deal of musical filigree for the violin.
The University Summer Concerts series has continually brought the best in chamber music to Princeton in the summer months, and this summer in particular, the ensembles have been of particularly high quality. The remaining two concerts will no doubt engage the audience in an especially refreshing way.