California String Quartet plays at First Thursdays

By Mai Lon Gittelsohn

Contributor

Members of the California String Quartet inspired the First Thursdays audience at the Del Mar Powerhouse on Thursday, Nov. 6, with their sensitive interpretation of Beethoven’s String Quartet in D Major (Op. 18, #3) and Dvorak’s String Quartet #10 in E flat Major (Op. 51). The Del Mar Foundation sponsors the First Thursdays series. The concert was also an opportunity to introduce Joel Holliday as incoming President of the Del Mar Foundation.

The current members of the quartet are Bridget Dolkas, violin, Jeanne Skrocki, violin, Pam Jacobsen, viola, and Lars Hoefs, cello. Dolkas has been in the California String Quartet since its inception eight years ago. The quartet in its present configuration has been working together for a year and demonstrates a rapport with each other that translates into strong and sensitive ensemble playing.

The program provided an interesting contrast between the classicism of early Beethoven and the romanticism of Dvorak. For the audience, it was a journey from Beethoven’s clarity and elegance in form to the powerful thrust of Dvorak’s compelling narrative.

Side note: On March 5, three members of the California String Quartet will be playing completely different music with the Peter Sprague String Quartet. It will be a “new mix of jazz and classical.”