Quartetto Gelato – Concert Review

On November 28th, Autumn Sunderland opened NOCCA’S 3rd concert of the season. Accompanied by Paul Dykstra on piano, Autumn offered concert goers two delightful pieces, Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise followed by Suk’s Burleska. She played both from memory with confidence and skill. This was demonstrated through the voicing of her violin’s delicate tones. Her fingers rapidly moved over the neck of her instrument as she exhibited incredible agility in her bowing technique. Ms. Sunderland brought together two highly complex musical arrangements in what seemed to be an effortless manner.

The concert’s showcase, Quartetto Gelato, consisting of Colin Maier, oboe, vocals and musical saw, Tino Popovic, violin and vocals, Matti Pulkki, accordion and Kirk Starkey, cello presented the audience with an evening of outstanding, eclectic entertainment. We went on a musical journey that sent us on a wild romp from Klezmer to Gypsy Jazz, Scottish to Country (Spaghetti Roads), and ended the evening with the finale of the theme music from the Flintstones and The Simpons. Throughout the evening, the audience was invited to participate by clapping, snapping their fingers, singing and letting out their joy.

Each musician played with amazing technical expertise and mastery of their instruments. The interplay between the musicians was cohesive, seamless and flowing. This was not an ‘ordinary quartet.’ This was a classical crossover quartet! They created a “mashup musical melange.” Not only did they exquisitely mash together Mozart and Brubeck, they also mashed their instruments into multiple unique voices; the oboe became a bagpipe with cello and violin becoming the drones. The accordion became an impressive pipe organ within a massive European cathedral, The sheer athleticism of the “musiceletes” was impressive. The concert goers could not take their eyes off of Quartetto Gelato. The entire performance was captivating, mind boggling and exhilarating.

Review by Ann Dorval, Shannon Marsh and Gerry Sholomenko.

NOCCA’s next concert will feature: 
Haerim Elizabeth Lee (violin) & David Fung (piano) on Thursday January 25, 2024. 
Tickets can be purchased at ticket seller.ca or phone (250) 549-7469. 
For more information visit our website nocca.ca