And the quartet plays on...
Chanticleer String Quartet uses teamwork, humor to survive 25 years
By Millicent Martin
Palladium-Item staff writer
August 5, 2001

What's the stereotype of professional musicians? Some might say they wear fancy clothes while performing, and they're serious, knowledgeable and passionate about their art form.

All of that is true when talking about members of the Chanticleer String Quartet. But they also have a lot of fun with their music and each other. They want audiences to enjoy their concerts, too.

The group's intense touring summer festival began Thursday and ends Aug. 12 with a performance at the Chanticleer Farm in Richmond. Included are stops in Hagerstown, Liberty and three concerts in Richmond, along with shows in Marion and Nashville, Ind.

Although the quartet turns 25 this year, it keeps things fresh by producing new programs each summer. Founding local violinist Caroline Klemperer-Green has seen musicians come and go through the years. But all four members returned this summer, as well as the guest artist. They are: Salvatore Greco, violin; Jennifer Smith, viola; Elizabeth Mendoza, cello; and Ana Cervantes on piano.

Laughter and enthusiasm exuded from the casually clad and mostly barefoot musicians during a practice this week. Trying to stay cool in the scorching heat, members of the quartet wore tank tops, shirts, shorts or denim dresses.

As they ran through a portion of Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81, their enthusiasm almost bounced off the walls as they made adjustments to dynamics, bow strokes and tempos in their parts. The five musicians rapidly and excitedly injected insight into the conversation or played a few bars to demonstrate possible solutions. Teamwork has been just one of the ensemble's strengths through the years.

That spirit has carried them through challenging situations. They can recall funny stories about concerts.

Cervantes said last summer during a concert they played at the remodeled train depot in Union City, Ind., they were joking as they pulled into the parking lot, wondering if the depot still had trains. Indeed, one rolled in during each half of the concert. Mendoza said during a disturbance, they stopped and froze in their positions as the horn blared and building rattled. Finally, as the noise evaporated, the crowd cheered as the musicians picked up exactly where they left off, she said.

Other incidents took place several years ago but are still fresh enough to seem like the events happened just last year. Another timing incident involved a former guest artist, Rosemarie Gore Bigbee, who is a vocal soloist. The group was preparing for its outdoor concert at the Chanticleer Farm. Although the weather had been cloudy, they decided to take a chance and have the performance. Just as the group started playing "Stormy Weather," it started drizzling. Bigbee was wearing a silver lamé raincoat and matching umbrella to cover her fancy dress. The minute the song ended, the clouds went away and she took off the rain gear and put away the umbrella as if it had been planned. Rain stayed away for the rest of the concert.

Another incident was downright funny. For instance, many years ago, before a concert in a northern Indiana church, the quartet was preparing in the basement. While the crowd was gathering upstairs, a bat flew into the hair of the then-violist and she let out a bloodcurdling scream. The audience had no idea what had happened and the pre-concert stress just caused the musicians to crack up laughing. "We had to wait until we could stop laughing to go out and perform," Klemperer-Green said.

Although the group plans throughout the year for the concerts, there's always an element of surprise because something doesn't go as scheduled in the preparations.

For instance, Greco's luggage was lost during his trip to Indiana last year, so the Sicilian had to buy new clothes for the concerts and practices. They were relieved he arrived with all of his supplies this year.

Others travel from long distances, too. Cervantes lives in Mexico and Mendoza comes from Connecticut. Violist Jennifer Smith of Montana has been a part of the quartet for almost 12 years. During her first summer, she subbed for the violist while doing work on her doctorate in Cleveland. The following summer, she came to hear the farm concert, and the next summer, she received a phone call asking her to be in the quartet. "I jumped at the opportunity," Smith said. "It's a long association spanning many miles. What I value most during the summers is the communal spirit that exists here. It's partly related to the international spirit. There's just a very broad perspective that exists on the farm."

"And a respect for different ideas," Klemperer-Green chimed in. Cervantes, a pianist, was the quartet's guest artist last year. Typically, guest artists aren't invited for another season, but Cervantes was so well-received, she was asked back. She has known Klemperer-Green for several years since they played many children's programs together. Performing with the quartet was such a treat for Cervantes last year because she had played more solo performances in the three to four previous years and enjoyed returning to chamber music.

"It's nice because we're playing such juicy, romantic music this year," Cervantes said. She said playing with the ensemble is "really a magnificent experience, wonderful in every way."

But the musicians also show a humorous side as well. "To me, one of the satisfying things is the dedication to high quality playing and dedication to eating a lot of Oreos," Cervantes said, laughing. Klemperer-Green said they do joke around, but they need to have some relaxation because of the intensity of their work. They practice six hours a day together and some time individually while they're at the farm.

"These are wonderful musicians who are also wonderful people," Cervantes said.

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