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By: Dennis Tavernetti – a retired international business executive, member of original Peace Center Executive Committee, supporter of the arts, and editor/publisher of Greenville Arts Today.

Last week I wrote a preview of this upcoming concert hopefully providing some insight into each piece and what you might expect or look for in key movements. If you did not read it, you still can, just click on the link here. Now to the review.

On Monday night the Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas treated its Greenville audience to its most ambitious programing ever ventured in its July visits. The result was a two-hour concert that can best be described as a dazzling + exceptional high-quality performance worthy of the most prestigious music venues in the world. Frankly, in researching and writing the preview, I underreported the challenging nature of the evening that lay ahead.

First on the program was Beethoven’s String Quintet Op.29 with the Jasper String Quartet plus one. As previewed, the violas + cello created the “Storm,” calling the violins to soar above it. Timing, precision, and emotional enthusiasm were hallmarks of this performance, even foretelling an actual audible thunderous rain.

Next, was Saints-Saens’ Introduction et Ronondo Capricciosio Op. 28 for piano + violin. This piece, as performed by pianist Inessa Zaretsky and violinist Susie Park, was an extraordinary example of dazzling and brilliant playing by both. Especially remarkable was the wonderfully refined playing from Ms. Zaretsky, providing the opportunity for Ms. Park to be the virtuoso she has become. The audience responded wildly in full appreciation.

After the intermission, we were treated to Bach’s Keyboard concerto #7 with piano, violin, viola + cello. In the preview, I mentioned with some disappointment that it would be performed with a modern piano, rather than the single harpsichord that Bach had intended. One can certainly hear in the piece space for the harpsichord to be featured and easily heard, which Ms. Zaretsky handled very well with restraint and clarity of playing. Bottom line – this modern presentation of this piece was exceptional and one to cherish. I trust even Bach would have been pleased with the result!

At this point in the concert, with one piece to go, I imagine many thoughts we had already experienced the best of a miraculous evening. However, Mendelssohn’s String Octet Op.20 defied that pretense. The audience watched with anticipation as the stage was filled with 4 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos. With the very talented violinist, J. Freivogel, in lead, each musician performed with exceptional ability + quality. This surely was what the 16-year-old Mendelson had intended and imagined could be attained.

Based on the audience’s final roar of standing applause, there was no doubt that the evening was one that no one would forget for a very long time and one perhaps few had experienced before.

Ms. Zaretsky, Artistic Director of Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas, certainly deserves a standing ovation for creating, organizing and executing this year’s Festival: Hear Hear! (yes, pun intended).

The audience also had the opportunity to meet the new Director of Greenville County School’s Fine Arts Center, Vee Popat, a highly qualified fine arts secondary school educator/leader from New Jersey. Many thanks to the Fine Arts Center for providing their 125-seat recital hall for the concert series, as well as their Yamaha grand piano. We all certainly look forward to next year.