By Laurence Vittes | November 2, 2018
In the midst of premiering new works by Mark Hagerty, Bright Sheng and Jennifer Barker and getting ready to make their debut at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall next February, the self-described crossover piano trio 6 wire have issued a recording engineered by Grammy-winner Andreas Meyer that showcases their unique sound and repertoire.
In fact, 6 wire is not a piano trio in the traditional sense. The University of Delaware’s ensemble-in-residence is made up of a conventional Western, four-string violin, a two-string Chinese erhu – the six wires from which the group takes it name – and piano. The sound of the three instruments together, and in various configurations with Chinese zither, cello and sound effects, seems to inevitably become a fascinating game of contrasts between the sweet, soaring timbres of Sean Gao’s violin and Cathy Yang’s huskier and sexier erhu.
The Chinese ‘folk’ tracks are sweet enough and give the piano more substantial roles; Matthew Brower’s opening solo in Sunrise over the Tashikuergan Desert is more than a minute long. But it is the two pieces by Gao – the nine-minute title-track in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, ending in the sadness of sirens and a children’s song, and Beijinger, dedicated to Malaysian flight 370 – that have the most personal involvement.
Of the seven Western lollipop arrangements, the Bach concerto is the most convincing; while it might not eclipse memories of the iconic Django Reinhardt version from 1937, the erhu joins in so brilliantly that after a while it becomes hard to sort the two string instruments out.
“Unbeatable performance…. Gao’s blend of emotion and technique, strength and subtlety was a pleasure to witness.”
“Gao is effortlessly lyrical, this young Chinese virtuoso’s arching phrases and velvety tone exactly fit the music… such beautiful playing.”
“Brilliant violinist and a dazzling performance! At quite a daring tempo, the flitting, fluttering finale (Saint Saens concerto #3) was dispatched with succulent tone and effortless assurance. But there was no lack of feeling in the concerto’s more soulful stretches, with singing, soaring lines to take your breath away.”
“Playing without a hint of showiness, Gao polished a diamond with delicate phrasing, such as the way one momentarily pauses for the cadence of poetry or the subtlety of a sustained pure tone before vibrato dresses it up. It was exquisite, brilliant playing that was much like chamber music than it was a concerto(Mozart #4 in D major).”
“A delightful and spectacular violinist, Sean radiates a love and enjoyment of music, and provided a spirited display of virtuosity. To watch him play, even if one could not hear a note, is an emotional experience—everything he feels plays across his face as well as his violin!”
“Mr. Gao gave the Sibelius’ violin concerto a definition that only comes through intimate knowledge of not only the notes, but of the style and the composer,.…. he is spectacular in sound and sight.”