BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL PARK CITY, Temple Har Shalom, Park City, Feb. 17; final concert 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Park City Community Church, tickets at www.beethovenfestivalparkcity.org.
There is just a small handful of works that capture the clarinet’s infinite expressive possibilities. One of these is Mozart’s quintet, K. 581. Arguably the greatest chamber work for clarinet, the quintet exploits the instrument’s melodic capabilities like no other save, perhaps, for Brahms’ glorious quintet, op. 115.
Mozart’s work has appeared at Beethoven Festival Park City concerts several times over the years, and it was again on the program at Sunday’s matinee concert. Its appearance at this festival is more than amply justified because of clarinetist and festival co-founder Russell Harlow’s exquisite playing. He has made this work his own and seldom has it been played better than it was at Sunday’s concert.
Harlow has a gorgeous, mellow tone; his phrasings are seamless and he sculpts beautifully crafted melodies. His expressive playing captured the lyricism and nuances of the work effortlessly.
He was joined by a quartet of like minded musicians: violinists Monte Belknap and Becca Moench; violist Leslie Harlow; and cellist Julie Bevan. They played off each other and gave a perceptive and poetic reading that delved into the subtleties of the music.
The only other work on the program was Beethoven’s early String Trio op. 3, no. 1, played by Moench, Bevan and Leslie Harlow. The three captured the charming quality of this divertimento-like six-movement work with their musical reading. Their playing was light, lyrical and wonderfully musical.
As a bonus, there was a special performance before the concert by students from Mapleton and Spanish Fork, who had just concluded a four-day music retreat in Park City with coaching by members of the festival artist roster. These young string players gave a delightful performance of the opening movement from Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik.
