Portola Valley pianist's Ensemble San Francisco performs Sunday

Posted by Angela Hey
a resident of Portola Valley: Brookside Park
on Apr 28, 2015 at 1:07 pm

The concert at Christ Church (which I attend) was outstanding. It started with Samuel Barber's Sonata for Cello and Piano Opus 6 (Web Link which Jonah Kim started with sonorous strokes. Its haunting tunes went on to the brilliant third movement - Allegro Appassionato - as Kim's vivacious, appropriately passionate playing was brilliantly accompanied by Christine Payne.

For Schumann's Piano Quartet in E-Flat Opus 47 (Web Link Jessica Chang (educated at Juilliard and the Curtis Institute of Music and now at Dropbox) introduced the piece. Pianist Leyla Kabuli was remarkable for a 10th grade student and San Francisco Symphony player, Elina Lev, joined Kim on cello.

Over brownies and cookies, concert attendees discussed the music in the interval.

Playing resumed with the delightful Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor Opus 49 by Mendelssohn (Web Link I was reminded how relaxing Mendelssohn's music can be, when played by relaxed players. Christine Payne on piano joined Elina Lev (violin) and Jonah Kim (cello) and played the rippling accompaniment with incredible fluidity. The string melodies were echoed precisely by the perfectly synchronized trio. I practised piano from my old copy of Mendelssohn's Song Without Words the next day - it was a remarkably inspiring performance.

The concert concluded with Tchaikovsky's String Sextet in D Minor Opus 70, "Souvenir de Florence" (Web Link which has one spirited movement for two violins, two violas and two cellos. Youth talent was showcased with vibrant playing from cellist Elena Ariza, a junior at Menlo Upper School, and violist Deanna Badizadegan, a Stanford Management Science student.

The vivacious playing deserves a larger audience - including the players and helpers there were about 50 at Christ Church. Next time the group plays locally it would be great to include children who are starting out on the piano or stringed instruments as they will surely be inspired.

Thank you for this great article and thank you to all in Ensemble San Francisco. Save the date June 14th for the next Portola Valley appearance of these extraordinarily talented artists.