Shanghai Quartet Earns Raves on East Coast Swing

The Shanghai Quartet in residence at this year's OBF July 5-9.

They'll be involved in a wide range of concerts and events here in Eugene, including Mendelssohn and more with string soloists, Le Salon Français with OBF wind principals, the very Viennese Schubertiade, and an outdoor performance saluting the farewell day of the Eugene 08 Olympic Trials. But the spring has already been busy for the SHANGHAI QUARTET. They've earned outstanding reviews for concerts in Washington, DC, and New York City, and this from Pittsburgh:

"The Shanghai was uncompromising here, unwinding its coiled lyricism but
never overdoing the inflections. Bright Sheng's String Quartet No. 4 is a modern
bridge between East and West. The Shanghai offered such mastery, delivering
staccato runs or chordal bursts with uncanny precision, that at times one fixated
on the sheer musicianship. But the fascinating work had much to offer. It was
interesting to hear how much warmer the Shanghai played even the pizzicatos
of Ravel's String Quartet. Phrasing was tasteful and solos supreme (violist Li
is a marvel of a player). If only we all could 'speak' the language as well as
this group." —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (April 2)