The final concert of Louth Contemporary Music Society’s Silenzio festival, of June 23–24, was devoted to the music of Salvatore Sciarrino. Four works were featured, after an engaging pre-concert talk between Sciarrino and Paul Griffiths: Immagine fenicia (‘Image of Phoenicia’), performed on solo flute by Matteo Cesari; the seventh string quartet, performed by the Quartetto Prometeo; Trovare un equilibrio, è necessario? (‘Finding a balance, is that necessary?’) a chamber work with Cesari joining the quartet; and, in the second half, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart’s performance of the 12 Madrigali. The latter three works were all performed by the ensembles that premièred them, a remarkable coup for Louth Contemporary Music Society and its curator Eamonn Quinn. The calibre of performer that the society brings to Ireland receives less comment than that of the composers, but it is as impressive.
Read the full review here
http://journalofmusic.com/criticism/listening-closer