Violinists James Ehnes and Amy Schwartz Moretti, violist Richard O’Neill, and cellist Robert deMaine (Photo: SCMS)
The temperature rose as a buzzing crowd filled Benaroya Hall’s Nordstrom Recital Hall on July 24. The muggy atmosphere in the typically-breezy auditorium was deliberate for the penultimate evening of the Seattle Chamber Music Society‘s Summer Festival. The whirring air conditioning system was shut off for part of the performance, which included a live recording session of two of Shostakovich’s most celebrated string quartets. The audience in the packed hall didn’t seem to mind the heat. Instead, a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation filled the room in the minutes before the start of the show.
Each SCMS concert is preceded by a 30-minute recital presented by artists on the evening’s main program. The recitals are always free and open to the public, making these pint-sized performances a fantastic deal. The July 24 pre-concert event featured the live recording of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 — an especially sweet bargain that turned out to be the highlight of the entire evening.