Those who ventured out to Marysburg Assumption Church on November 13 were treated to a concert of exceptional quality from one of the finest music ensembles in the province.The Elixir Ensemble performed a program of mixed works including two pieces by Romantic composers Schubert and Brahms, and two contemporary pieces by Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge and American composer Kenji Bunch. The ensemble brought along a guest artist, mezzo-soprano Cassandra Warner, who dazzled the audience with her interpretation of Montsalvatge's songs, accompanied by Kathleen Solose on the piano.The rest of the pieces were for piano quartet and piano trio, and although the four musicians blended impeccably, each one had an opportunity to shine in the program.Their opening piece, the "Adagio and Rondo D. 487," by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) with its scintillating piano line played more like a piano concerto, according Solose more of a solo role, while the strings (violin, viola and cello) together took on the orchestral accompaniment.The first half of the program concluded with Warner and Solose interpreting three of Montsalvatge's "Cinco Canciones." Montsalvatge (1912-2002) wrote this set of Spanish songs that revolve around Cuban culture and require some degree of dramatic presence to carry them off. The audience may have hoped to hear Warner, a trained opera singer, perform some familiar arias, however, the mezzo-soprano had no trouble convincing them of her versatility and talent as a singer on stage.In the second half of the program, the ensemble began with a more melancoly and personal work, Johannes Brahm's (1833-1897) "Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60."Brahms' composition illustrates the personal and romantic suffering the composer experienced in his life. The minor key sets the tone for this piece, and the strings' dramatic lines with long, strident chords evoke the composer's powerful sentiment. Throughout the piece, the piano blended into the work like a piece of fine, delicate lace.The Elixir Ensemble ended the concert with an unusual composition by contemporary Kenji Bunch. Bunch is known for his slightly jazzy compositions, and "Intersections" afforded the audience a chance to hear a contemporary piece that was tonal and delightfully rhythmic.Elixir Ensemble's four musicians reside in Saskatoon, where the three string players are members of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra: Violinist Oxana Ossiptchouk is prinicipal second violin; violist James Legge is principal violist; and cellist Scott McKnight is acting principal cellist.Solose has performed solo, chamber music and concerti in Europe, the United States and Canada, and is now a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and artistic director of the ensemble.
